Which courses do the MLA offer?
There are many reasons the MLA is the place to get quality training right now on the many different modules they offer; state of the art facilities, well respected tutors with significant expertise in the fields they teach in, a structured curriculum. And these are only small fractions of why the MLA should be your number one choice.
Let’s do a case study on a new course we offer: van lock installation.
Van lock installation is becoming more and more popular, why? Because van crime is on the increase, every single day a huge number of vans are being attacked. In fact, because of tool theft, two thirds (66%) of tradespeople have lost at least one working day according to a Screwfix survey, in addition to the loss of the value of the tools, which for three quarters (75%) was more than £500. One fifth of trade tool theft victims had more than £5000 worth of tools stolen. So there’s a big market for van lock fitting services.
It goes without saying that adding extra security to your van is a must. I bet most of the people reading this already have extra security on their vans. Why? Because we should be practising what we preach.
One big advantage is that the supply of business is never going away either, everyday hundreds of new vans are sold, which means a good number of them will require additional security of some kind.
With the way that some social media outlets allow exploits to be freely shown, no matter what the manufacturers change or sure up, its soon out in the open, so I do not see the growth of van lock installation slowing soon.
At the MLA we have three van lock manufacturers as affiliates, I’ve dealt with them myself a lot over recent years. With newer products becoming Sold Secure accredited, now is a time you can give your customers the assurance the products you are fitting as the best they can be.
After a number of conversations with a couple of these manufactures, I was approached by Locks 4 Vans to build a course for the MLA to offer training on the installation of their products. As I’ve already created a few other courses, so I was more than happy to.
Myself and Terry Watts got a plan together and had several meetings with Locks 4 Vans to build a class worthy of the products we needed to show.
After several months, rigs being set up and tools and equipment invested in, we finally had a completed course ready for people to attend.
Now the aim of this created course was not to give people false hope that they could leave the course and start fitting van locks to large fleets, this was never the intention, there a lot of full-time professional van lock installers fitting fleets of vans, and they already have the contracts to do that with happy customers, so let’s keep away from that market.
We designed this course so an already skilled person could add this skill set alongside their other skills, and services they offer, another string to their bow if you like – another opportunity to earn some money.
Once completed you will have fitted at least 3 hook locks in our bespoke set up, and one lucky course attendee gets a live fit on their van free of charge, itself virtually paying for the course.
This in turn will give you the confidence to go out and start to do installations.
We recommend starting off slowly, once you build confidence speed will follow!
The course is aimed at people that are confident at measuring and marking, it’s a full-on day, but by the end you’ll have all the information you need to know so you can get on straight away.
Most people are extremely scared of just drilling holes in someone’s van, rightly so, we aim to melt that fear away, once you’ve done the course the uncertainty is gone.
We have a full workshop with everything you need, Locks 4 Vans have made custom jigs, so you’ll learn how to understand the method used installing in different situations.
Locks 4 vans also offer ongoing support to you, just don’t forget to tell them you’ve been on our course.
Our tutors for this course are:
Shane Hales QML
Martin Leadbeater QML
Terry Watts FQML
Paul Horton QML
Why not come join us, add that extra string I spoke about. You’ll only need a couple of installations a month to reap the benefits of doing this course, your investment can be recouped in just three-to-four installations, including the equipment you may need.