We interviewed Danny Gardiner, behind First Entry Locksmiths in Southwater, West Sussex, and South UK Locksmith Training. His journey is nothing short of fascinating, transitioning from the world of precious stones and metals as a jewellery store owner to becoming a locksmith. It’s a remarkable tale of moving from rocks to locks, and now he’s even imparting his knowledge through locksmithing training.
Tell us about your journey into locksmithing?
When I was about 13 years old, I watched a TV programme on locksmithing and knew right then that I wanted to pursue that path. However, life had other plans. After leaving school, I struggled to land my first locksmithing job, so I took a position cutting keys and enrolled in a carpentry course at college.
Later, I ventured into the music industry for a bit, and eventually opened two jewellery stores. My interest in jewellery was piqued by its intricate nature, which I later found beneficial in locksmithing. Unfortunately, juggling too many responsibilities led to the downfall of my jewellery business. This failure, however, had a silver lining as it steered me back to my initial passion for locksmithing.
I trained at Island Locks, which is no longer in operation. Now, I’ve been self-employed as a locksmith for eight years, operating under First Entry Locksmiths. I can’t imagine myself doing anything else and plan to continue in this profession until retirement, though that’s still a long way off.
Most of my work comes from contracts with estate agents and housing maintenance companies, with whom I’ve built strong relationships. The rest of my business comes through word of mouth and social media marketing.
The Desire to Train Others
I’m always eager for something new and I missed interacting with people. Excited by all the new skills I had learned, I felt a strong desire to help others, which led to the birth of South UK Locksmith Training. For the past two years, I’ve been teaching new locksmiths and really enjoying it. The social aspect of teaching is fulfilling and it’s great to do alongside my locksmith work. It’s fun to pass on my knowledge and see my students succeed – it’s so rewarding. I offer one-to-one courses and a five-day locksmithing course at my workshop. When I get callouts, I often take my students with me, which works out perfectly!
At South UK Locksmith Training, I keep my class sizes small, with a maximum of three people, to ensure lots of personalised learning time. I support my students throughout their journey into locksmithing and beyond, as there’s always more to learn. My students enjoy supplier discounts on tools and stock, and I guide them on the best products to use. Personally, I favour using Versa for euro cylinders (a Duffells company), Prolocks, and APECS.
Plans for 2025
I will be launching new courses next year in January, I can’t say much now but the teaser is it will be on high security euro cylinders and UPVC. Keep your eyes peels and look for updates on my social media and website: www.southuklocksmithtraining.com
Tips for new locksmiths
My advice to new locksmiths? First, make sure you have some financial cushion, because the initial setup costs can be significant, and the first few years can be challenging as you establish yourself in the field. Having some extra money saved up can really take the pressure off. It’s often when new locksmiths run out of cash that they feel forced to give up.
Do your homework on what you need and have a clear understanding of the costs involved. Talk to other locksmiths about what you’ll need in your first year. When you’re not working, invest your time in research and training. Read architectural ironmongery and lock catalogues, learn different methods of entry, and familiarize yourself with the products. Gradually build up your skills over time. And, of course, come and train with me! I offer courses that will give you a solid foundation and ongoing support as you grow in this profession.
Just Be Kind: Train With South UK
What I love about locksmithing is that every job brings something new. I always feel like I am learning, and it’s incredibly satisfying to be skilled at something and to help others. It’s a humbling experience. However, what I dislike is that some people can be overly critical and negative, which I’ve heard from my students. It’s disheartening – but I suppose this happens in any competitive industry. It doesn’t hurt to just be kind to people. Come and train with South UK Locksmithing Training, we’re a friendly bunch and offer a relaxed ‘hands on’ approach to training where no question is a silly one.
www.southuklocksmithtraining.com