Whether
you're new to locksmithing or new to London, one of the many milestones in a
locksmith’s life is when he finally obtains his locksmith license.
The locksmith industry
of the United Kingdom could best be described as being in a state of
uncertainty. In most countries, locksmiths are required to be licensed just to
acquire the tools and equipment needed to gain entry to or pick open virtually
any lock or property. Since a person’s security is on the line, there’s no
denying that regulations of some sorts are necessary. Unfortunately, however,
this is not the case in the UK.
Any individual,
regardless of their background, can set themselves up and advertise services as
a locksmith. Due to the absence of a government-mandated licensing scheme,
phony locksmiths can’t be held accountable for any trouble they may have caused
beyond the broad guidelines implemented by British trading standards. With
that, unskilled, untrained and poorly equipped locksmiths are gradually
saturating the UK locksmiths industry.
Additionally, there are
countless unestablished locksmith training schools offering three day training
courses currently all over the country. To make things worse, these schools
claim that in those two days, students will be able to learn everything needed
to start up a company and trade as a locksmith. While there may be an
‘exception’ that proves the rule, ask yourself if you think it’s realistic. If
it takes an apprentice to master just the basics of locksmithing in a year or
two, can you learn everything you need to know in three days?
The influx of poorly
trained locksmiths is gradually pulling the industry down, taking well-deserved
work from renowned and highly skilled locksmiths, as well as ruining the reputation
of the trade itself with poor craftsmanship and overpriced services. The only
way to stay away from the trend is to become a member of The Institute of
Certified Locksmiths and the Master Locksmiths Association. Currently, these
are the only two recognized official bodies for locksmiths actively pursuing
tighter regulations within the industry in the UK. If you want to know How
to Get a Locksmith License, get in touch with the Master Locksmiths
Association (MLA). The non-profit organization has established its own
licensing scheme whereby its approved members are vetted, have undergone
regular inspections to ensure quality, and have recognized exam based
qualifications.
With locksmith shops
spewing up like mushrooms all over London, what’s the best way to know whether
the “locksmith nw1,” “locksmith nw3,” “locksmith sw6,” or
“locksmith sw1” you’ve searched on the Internet are qualified? It’s
simple. Go to the MLA’s website and use their free ‘Find a Locksmith’ tool to
see if your desired locksmith is listed as a member.
If you wish to stand out
from the competition, there’s no better way to do it than to get licensed. With
consumers becoming shrewder, searching for higher quality at better prices,
knowing How to Get a Locksmith License may just be well worth it.
Besides, you’ll be doing the locksmith industry a big favor.
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