Locksmith training courses are becoming more and more popular in the UK, as people of all ages and backgrounds are attracted to the idea of a career in locksmithing. But what does working as a locksmith actually involve? This article looks at the trade and offers insight and advice for those considering locksmith training.

So what does a locksmith actually do? Locksmiths perform a number of services related to locks and home/business security. This can include picking, fitting, repairing and changing a variety of different locking mechanisms for either domestic or commercial clients.

Locksmiths normally work either independently or as part of a company, and use vans to travel from job to job.

Some of the skills that usually make for a good locksmith include manual dexterity and being able to approach a problem in a practical way. A personable manner and an ability to put customers at ease is also important, as it is a job that normally entails spending a lot of time with the public.

Being responsive to emergency situations is also a major requirement for many in the locksmith trade, because people can be in need of locksmiths at all hours of the day and night. Emergency locksmith companies generally have someone on call 24 hours, so they can be there instantly when someone calls asking for assistance.

There is currently no governing body that is universally recognised by all UK locksmiths, and consequently there are no official qualifications needed to operate in the profession. However, any new locksmith will almost certainly have to undergo some kind of formal training before they can begin working, because the skills involved are so specialist.

A typical introductory locksmith training course might last for 3 or 4 days, in which time the students will learn the ropes of the trade, attaining all-important skills for identifying, operating and picking all the main lock types they will come across when they’re out in the field. Once these skills have been learned in the classroom, a new locksmith will need to put in a lot of practice (often in an apprentice role) so that they can get the experience necessary to operate independently.

Locksmiths are widely in demand across the UK, and if they are willing to work hard they tend to be well rewarded for their efforts. Those that are employed by a large company sometimes receive a regular salary, which will be set according to their experience (the greater the experience, the greater their salary they can expect). A great many locksmiths actually work on a self-employed basis, and so their earnings vary widely depending on the number of jobs they do and the type of work involved.

There are a variety of advantages and disadvantages that come with both working independently and working as part of a national chain, and ultimately it comes down to the individual and you consider important – being your own boss and working to your own schedule, or getting a steady pay cheque and having all the difficult accounting and financial stuff handled for you by a head office.

Finally, one of the great things about being locksmith is that you can continue to pick up skills throughout your career, by progressing on to ever more specialist areas like vehicle locks and electronic security devices. A good locksmith never stops learning and getting better!

Keytek runs intensive locksmith courses at its state of the art training facility. Visit the website for more on the Keytek locksmiths training academy

Keytek runs intensive locksmith courses at its state of the art training facility. Visit the website for more on the Keytek locksmiths training academy http://www.locksmiths-training.co.uk/

Author Bio: Keytek runs intensive locksmith courses at its state of the art training facility. Visit the website for more on the Keytek locksmiths training academy

Category: Career
Keywords: locksmith training, locksmiths training, train to be a locksmith, locksmith courses