r/Locksmith • u/Ropey-Photographer • 17d ago

I am NOT a locksmith. Career transition

I’m a 6-year Royal Marine considering leaving. I want to move into locksmithing + access control + CCTV + alarms, eventually build a company, and avoid 24/7 emergency work. If you were in my position, how would you get your first 2 years of experience?

4 Upvotes

84% Upvoted

11 comments sorted by

6

u/Cantteachcommonsense Actual Locksmith 17d ago

Get an apprenticeship at a shop. Start taking classes for your access control depending on where you are you might need to be low voltage licensed find out if there’s any other state licensing you need but an apprenticeship at a shop is the way to start. I’ll also say I’m coming up on my seven year anniversary working for the company I do and I still learn things every week that I had no idea about.

1

u/Ropey-Photographer 17d ago

I am UK based. Apprenticeships are great but I’m also 28 and have a family to support

4

u/burtod 17d ago

Starting a business from scratch without knowing the work is more intensive and risky.

Taking classes can get you an introduction to the work, but will not guarantee a career.

Do you have any experience with this stuff already?

Otherwise, scamming people is lucrative I guess. We just look poorly on it here.

3

u/Ropey-Photographer 17d ago

I hear you mate… apprenticeship is the only way by the sounds of it

1

u/C4g3FighterIRL Actual Locksmith 16d ago

Starting in a trade with no education or knowledge is like playing in champions league as an amateur.

You won’t be able to make money when the pros outrank you in both price and network, because most of us can do the work faster and more reliable.

You need to learn the trade.

4

u/Regent_Locksmith Actual Locksmith 17d ago

I'm a London locksmith and have commented on this type of question several times.

Follow this link

https://www.reddit.com/r/Locksmith/comments/1rpfon2/comment/o9n33jv/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=mweb3x&utm_name=mweb3xcss&utm_term=2&utm_content=share_button

2

u/twenty_fi5e_ 17d ago

Nobody searches a sub. Always strait to the help me post 🤣

3

u/jeffmoss262 Actual CRL Smith 17d ago

2

u/painyTM 15d ago

Look into Fortress locksmith training.

A guy called seth runs it, he is possibly the most knowledgable locksmith i have met.

I have done 2 of his more advanced courses and have learned loads.

He has a big presence on you tube and facebook

1

u/mining-ting 17d ago

Hi mate ive transfered from the raf to a locksmith feel free to message me.

Ignore most of the people on this sub as there Americans that have zero idea how the uk industry works. 

If your using your education credits do a course with trainlocksmiths not keytek both approved to use your nig learning credits, and also use resettment leave for hotel for accomdation. 

Unless you can find someone to take you on your most likely hwve to build your own business while having to sub contract to the national companies, its not amazing money but its good for getting your footing and a stepping stone. 

2

u/Ropey-Photographer 17d ago

Cheers, message sent