How to Become a Locksmith
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How to Become a Locksmith - the 10 Step Complete Guide
Your Guide to Becoming a Locksmith The Top 10 Best Tips & Advice ...
Do you see a future for yourself in the locksmithing profession? It is easy to see why. However, this is NOT a profession you can just walk into; training to become a locksmith is a time-consuming process.
At MPL Locksmith Training, we have helped to launch the careers of thousands of locksmiths up and down the UK for over two decades, via our Accredited City & Guilds, NCFE certified and MPL program of locksmith courses.
For those looking to join the industry, it is important to carefully consider the skills required and the challenges involved, read on.
Our team of experienced master locksmiths have created this comprehensive guide to becoming a locksmith, covering everything you need to know about the trade. From the necessary accreditations to the potential start-up costs for launching your own business, this guide provides valuable insights to help you kick-start your locksmithing career.
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1. Do I Need Any Qualifications to Become a Locksmith?
The first question to ask when considering becoming a locksmith is what qualifications are required. The good news is that you do not need a qualification or degree to become a locksmith. However, you will need certain skills and certifications if you wish to gain customers and tender for contracts that require specific skills, such as auto locksmithing requests.
Once you train with MPL, you will receive fully accredited training that sets you apart from those who have trained elsewhere. No professional licensing is required if you wish to train as a locksmith; if you are worried about licensing and legislation, this is not an issue we face in the UK.
2. Initial Considerations for Potential Locksmiths
While becoming a locksmith sounds great, there are some questions you should think about before taking any further steps into the trade. Before you begin training, we recommend you:
- Look into your local area; what does the demand for locksmiths appear to be local?
- What kind of competition exists locally? Do you have local, regional, or national competition?
- What services are being offered in your area? Are there any emergency locksmiths?
- How long have your general competitors been in business?
- Does the area you live within have regular crime, or is it considered safe?
- Is your catchment area filled with older properties or newer-builds with modern lock systems?
- Will you focus on covering one town, several towns, or an entire region of the UK?
It is better to review these details first because, unfortunately, some people train to become locksmiths and then find their catchment area is already overwhelmed with a large number of competitors. If you are unable to be spotted by potential clients, you will struggle to thrive.
Other areas have the opposite issue: low demand due to low crime rates. Review your conditions and your catchment area before committing to anything.
3. The Critical Skills Needed to Become a Locksmith
Before you continue any further, we recommend that you review our list of the critical skills needed by a locksmith. If you are joining the trade for the first time, then you might not be aware of how a locksmith should think or act. Generally, the traits of a successful locksmith will include:
- The ability to drive, as you will need to travel to and from customers, both residential and commercial.
- Professionalism when dealing with customers – even when they are rude, remember it can be a stressful time for them!
- The capacity to remain patient in the face of adversity and unexpected challenges.
- Hand-eye coordination and dexterity for working in what can be often very tight spaces.
- Planning to anticipate problems before they arise on the job.
- Problem-solving skills to find solutions to unexpected complications that will crop up from time to time.
- Attention to detail, ensuring you follow every phase of the process thoroughly.
- The ability to both locate and, if necessary, create your tools for the task at hand.
- The eagerness to continue learning; what you know today could soon become outdated!
Being a locksmith is not something that just happens because you went on a course. You need to develop a wide range of skills, as described above, to have the best chance to succeed.
4. How Much Does a Locksmith Earn?
Good question! It is also one of the most important to consider. The average salary for a UK locksmith ranges from trainee wages of around £22,0000 p/a to around £35,000 p/a and above. It comes down to your skill level, the hours you work, the level of demand in your area, and experience.
Also, who you work for matters; if you go self-employed or take on a contracted role with a locksmithing company, your wages will differ with a professional self-employed locksmith earning around £50,000 p/a.
The services you offer also play a role in how much you can earn. Locksmiths who stick to basic jobs like lock repair will earn less than someone in the commercial sector or who offers 24-hour emergency support. How far you are willing to travel can also have an impact on your earning potential as a locksmith.
Check local job listings for locksmiths in your local area and see what kind of wages are on offer from local locksmithing companies looking to hire new staff.
5. How Much Does it Cost to Become a Locksmith?
Of course, anyone who decides to become a locksmith needs to factor in the starting costs. From your training to the cost of setting up your business and marketing yourself, the start-up costs can rise pretty rapidly. The following factors can play a role in determining the cost of getting started:
- Register with HMRC
Are you already a qualified locksmith, or are you starting literally from scratch?
- Intensity
Does your training cover only the basics, or is it a more advanced training course?
- Transport
Will you invest in a van of your own or use the vehicle that you already drive around?
- Travel
This includes the cost of petrol/diesel and the cost of lodgings if you need to stay overnight.
- Protection
You need to insure both your vehicle and yourself (or your business) to limit risk.
- Stock
You need to have a lot of stock for locks, handles, hinges, and other essentials.
- Tools
Tools such as key-cutting machinery, lock pick sets, and hand tools such as drills and screwdrivers are a must have requirement for any professional locksmith.
- Marketing
Once qualified, you need to market yourself locally to bring in interest in your service.
If you move into more advanced locksmithing, such as safe management, you will need other tools. Always review the cost of getting started, from the cost of your training (and travel) to the cost of buying a vehicle, marketing your business, and more.
At MPL Locksmith & Security Training, we offer exclusive bespoke training support in the form of affordable toolkits, marketing advice, and other invaluable tips to help you get started whilst understanding better what the cost of starting your locksmithing business will be.
6. How Long Does it Take to Train as a Locksmith?
It is important to note that while you can finish our specialist locksmith training course in under a week, this is only the start. It takes years to develop the skills, competence, and confidence needed. As the industry changes and new services and skills come into play, too, you need to continue your training.
The fastest way to become a locksmith is to take our 5-Day Specialist Locksmith Training course. Held at our Wakefield training centre, this course provides you with an Accredited City & Guilds and NCFE-certified qualification. It covers everything you need to get the basics under control and start providing general locksmithing services.
Whether you are new to the career entirely or you simply want to realign yourself with modern locksmithing practices, this is the place to start. Most locksmiths who take our five-day training course will then focus on tendering for smaller contracts, developing their skills in the field before applying for more significant training and professional opportunities.
However, given the manual skills required and the hand-to-eye coordination required, those with manual backgrounds develop their skills faster. If you have previously worked in a trade like joinery or you have good general knowledge regarding electronic equipment, you can move up the ladder faster.
7. What Services Should a Locksmith Offer?
You must understand what services are most popular in your area. If you believe that there is demand for locksmiths, look for gaps in the market. For example, your area might not have auto locksmiths or commercial locksmiths.
Think about the kind of training you already have (or intend to undertake) and the range skills that allow you to offer. Are you going to focus on being a jack-of-all-trades or focusing on a more specialist route into the trade?
You also need to look at the costs that other local locksmiths charge. Some areas have high demand but little competition so that locksmiths can charge more than in areas with ample competition. The services you offer will be determined by the demand in your area for specific kinds of locksmiths and the skills that your competitors do, or dot not seem to offer. For example, are there any 24-hour emergency locksmiths? What about auto locksmiths? How about uPVC door and window repair specialists? Or those locksmiths who manage safes? What about access control systems?
8. Where Should I Train to Become a Locksmith?
We believe that we offer the best training facilities and courses in the United Kingdom. If you want to start training, we offer training courses for both total beginners and already qualified professionals. As such, we are the ideal starting place for total beginners and those looking to refresh their skills and modernise their approach to the trade.
To choose the right course for you, we recommend you contact our team via 01924 693293. We can recommend the right training course based on your current skill level. We also recommend that any potential trainees contact others in their area so they can determine what kind of training is best for them. You are also free to speak to our training team to get a better idea of our background and our suitability for being your training provider moving forward.
We are proud to say that our locksmiths are all fully qualified, active locksmiths with decades of experience between them. What you learn through our training comes from master locksmiths who have done the job themselves as opposed to theorists training you from a DVD!
9. How Can I Find Out More about Being a Locksmith?
Really, the best way to learn about the trade and to develop the skills you need to move into the profession is to speak to other locksmiths. Our training team are always happy to speak to prospective students. Since our locksmith training team are active locksmiths, they can give you a real-life rundown of what the profession entails.
If you want to get an idea of what being a locksmith is all about, you need to speak with people who are actively working in the trade already. You can only learn so much from reading articles or watching videos on YouTube. What you need to do is speak with professionals who already trade as locksmiths. Many will be keen to share their experiences with you, but please understand that some might not wish to share details about their trade with potential competitors!
With MPL Locksmith Training, you learn from experts who have served their time and worked within the trade for years. They know what the reality of the trade is like, including the highs and the lows. So, we can give you a first-hand insight into what being a locksmith involves and what the challenges you face are likely to be as your progress in your career.
We also recommend looking online at trade forums and even places like Reddit. You can find many insights and anecdotes from people who have worked in the trade. Just remember, though, that face-to-face discussions with professional locksmiths are always a more credible way to gain insight than anonymous online posts.
10. Are You Ready to Become a Locksmith?
The above tips and advice should hopefully give you an idea of the skills, qualifications, and training requirements involved in becoming a locksmith in the UK. If you want to become a locksmith that succeeds, you need to read up and research thoroughly. Do not dive in with both feet, as not everyone is cut out for the trade.
Read into the local competition, the cost of training to become a locksmith, and the investment needed to market your skills. Consider your present skills and how compatible they are with the attributes needed to be successful in locksmithing. Whether you are totally new to the trade or you already operate as a locksmith, this research and analysis will help you feel more confident and sure about your path forwards.
If you want to start training as a locksmith and maximise your potential, contact our expert team of trainers at MPL Locksmith Training today. We can arrange for you to have a chat with our staff and tour of our Wakefield training HQ so you can review everything with us before you start training.
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Who are MPL Locksmith Training?
With over two decades of experience in the locksmithing industry, at MPL we make it our mission to offer the highest-quality courses from our fully-equipped training centre, designed to cater for all levels of experience. Furthermore, we are industry specialists when it comes to uPVC lock and door repairs.
Whether you’re a complete beginner searching for a new trade, or you just want to familiarise yourself with the latest locksmith technology, we have the ideal training course for you.
Our courses are a great way to start working for yourself or for an established locksmith – the choice is yours!
Call: 01924 693 293 today for more information
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We invite prospective students and employers to visit our training centre to meet our professional team of trainers, gain a thorough understanding of the comprehensive courses we provide, and to ask any questions they may have.
Opening Hours:
Monday to Friday: 8:00am to 5:00pm
If you wish to visit our training centre and view the facilities which we have on offer, we kindly request that you give us a quick call beforehand to ensure one of our instructors will be available, and we can schedule appointment for you.
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Over 190+ 5 Star Google Reviews
We’ve trained a huge number of students over the past 20 years; many of which are kind enough to send us some great testimonials.
Below are some examples of the feedback we receive from our training courses from both individual students and the many organisations we work with.
Take a look at some of our Corporate Reviews
At MPL Training, we take pride in delivering industry-leading locksmith courses to a wide range of sectors across the UK. For over two decades, we have supported sectors that include the NHS, police forces, housing associations, councils, property companies, and banks.
Below are some of the corporate reviews we’ve received from our valued clients.
Dave
Connect Housing
I would like to take this opportunity to thank Nicky England and MPL for the fantastic service they provided for locksmith training. At each step of the process they were courteous and very well organised. I sent 5 of my technicians on the 3 day course and it has proven to be not only an enhancement of my teams skills but also a huge saving by being able to gain entry to our housing stock non destructively.
I would recommend MPL to any other customer and give their service delivery and training methods 10/10.
Bill
Ashton Pioneer Homes
I sent two of my operatives to MPL for locksmith training. The training was excellent and they have been able to put this in to good use. It has shortened the time taken for evictions and helped us portray a more professional image in front of bailiffs and other staff.
I would highly recommend them for training and for purchasing the right tools.
Dave
Dortech Maintenance
Dortech Maintenance are delighted to be working with the team at MPL Locksmiths in the up-skilling and development of our site engineers.
We look forward to continuing to develop this partnership and would highly recommend their training courses to others.
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MPL helping develop careers and businesses across the UK
We have trained individuals from across the country to become skilled locksmiths and build successful businesses, including:
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to train to become a locksmith?
After your initial 3 or 5-Day training, it can usually take a further 12 months to become an experienced locksmith. You will always be learning on the job, and have to keep up to date with the latest products and industry related regulations such as lock standards.
The easiest way to begin your new locksmithing career is by attending our comprehensive 3 or 5-Day Locksmith Course which is perfect for beginners who are looking to learn how to become a locksmith within one week. Many of our students have gone on to set up their own locksmithing businesses immediately after completing the course.
I am new to locksmithing, do I need any qualifications to train as a locksmith?
Whilst you don’t need any qualifications to train, you need a desire and a commitment to learn. It always helps if you come from a manual job or background and that you’re used to working with the tools you’ll need.
What course should I take if I'm a complete beginner to locksmithing?
If you are not familiar at all with the world of locksmithing, tools, or manual work, then we suggest that you undertake our 5-day City & Guilds / NCFE Specialist Course, as this will give you the introduction that you need as well as extra time and help.
How much does locksmith training cost?
Our courses vary in price subject to course detail and training days required. Please to call us on 01924 693293 with any questions on the latest prices and availability or fill in our enquiry form.
Are your Accreditations and Certificates recognised?
We are the UK’s ONLY provider of officially Accredited City & Guilds and NCFE Certified locksmith courses. Our accreditations recognise the high standards, process and delivery of bespoke training programmes which no other provider in the UK can offer.
In addition, we also run a range of courses which upon completion students receive our MPL certificate, which because we are the largest training provider in the UK is recognised throughout the industry as the gold standard.
Do I have to be a member of any trade organisations?
There is no governing body for the UK locksmith industry, there’s no need to join any of the various organisations that make claims to represent the industry. In fact, most of these are private companies that profit by charging for membership without offering much value.
Why not take advantage of our Competitive Finance Packages?
Looking to attend one of our courses? We can help to make it financially viable, with one of our highly competitive, tailored finance packages.
We work in partnership with Ideal4Finance and appreciate that when it comes to retraining, different finance options are often helpful. Ideal4Finance offer a range of competitive personal loans enabling you to purchase MPL Locksmith Training Courses and tools in excess of £1000.
*MPL Locksmith Training Ltd’ is an introducer appointed representative of Ideal Sales Solutions Ltd T/A Ideal4Finance. Ideal Sales Solutions is a credit broker and not a lender FRN 703401. Finance available subject to status. Loans of 25000 and above available on a secured basis. Think carefully before securing other debts against your home. Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on a mortgage or any other debt secured on it.
MPL Locksmith and Security Training are Trusted by ...
The UK’s Emergency Services, Councils, Housing Associations and Leading Utility Companies
Location and Transport Links
Our purpose built training centre is located in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, with easy access from major transport links across the UK.
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MPL Locksmith & Security Training
1 Thornes Office Park
Monckton Road
Wakefield
WF 7AN
By Train
From Major Cities
- London: Catch a direct train from London’s King’s Cross Station to Wakefield Westgate in under 2 hours.
- Birmingham: Enjoy quick connections from Birmingham New Street to Wakefield Westgate in approximately 90 minutes.
- Other Routes: Wakefield is well-served by major rail routes, ensuring a stress-free journey.
From the Train Station
Wakefield Westgate Train Station is the closest major station, located approximately 8 minutes by taxi from MPL Locksmith & Security Training. Alternatively, local buses and rideshare options are available on a regular basis for added convenience.
Save on Tickets
Plan ahead and save money by booking tickets in advance via Western Railway or other ticketing platforms. Advanced fares from London start as low as £25 return.
Embark on a comfortable and hassle-free train journey to attend your training at MPL Locksmith & Security Training!
By Air
Nearest Airport
The closest airport to MPL Locksmith & Security Training is Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA), located approximately 21 miles away.
Alternative Airports
- Manchester Airport (MAN): Just 50 miles from Wakefield, offering a wide range of domestic and international flights.
- Doncaster Sheffield Airport (DSA): Around 27 miles away, providing additional travel options.
Getting from the Airport
- Taxi: Approximately 40 minutes drive to Wakefield center.
- Public Transport: Regular bus services and train connections from Leeds city center make the journey easy.
Curated by
Elizabeth Whincup | Business Development Mananger
With a keen eye for growth opportunities and a passion for professional skills development, Elizabeth plays a pivotal role in expanding our training programs, forging strategic partnerships, and ensuring aspiring locksmiths receive the very best training experience with MPL. Dedicated to empowering our students with the skills they need to enjoy a successful locksmithing career, Elizabeth is committed to driving excellence across the business.
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