In the UK there has never been a government based regulatory body that made sure that a locksmith who undertook locksmith training had the credentials or met a criteria to be able to offer such locksmith skills to the public with fly by night locksmiths offering poor training, inadequate teaching methods and have no background in teaching at all or any qualification in teaching giving locksmiths training for 1, 2, 3 or 5 days on a locksmith course then letting them lose on the public. Then these locksmith cause damage to people's doors, do not hold any public liability, many are scammers and criminals with convictions. Only one other company in the UK offer a similar program but charge a annual membership fee where we do not believe in charging anything for these awards!

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Many rogue locksmiths also do not do any DBS /CRB background checks and will use there new skills to commit crime such as burglary and theft.

 

This is why the GMLUK created the first GMLUK Locksmith Award System in the 1990's and courses in line with Cornwall and Devon Locksmith Training and Gateshead Locksmith Training, Taylors Locksmiths Training Academy and the Guilds own training program. It means that if you are a locksmith that wants to operate in the UK and be trusted in both business education such as consumer law and the required level of skill sets then a locksmith must have undertaken all 4 levels of locksmith training and have full GMLUK accreditation before anyone in the public domain can let them lose on your door to prevent damages, costly repairs or being ripped off by rogue locksmith traders. 

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Each of the GMLUK locksmiths are monitored, reviews online are checked regularly to watch out for under cutting, ripping off the public and any sign of poor service.

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GMLUK certified locksmiths will achieve a statues over a period of years know as the Certification of Excellence and a GMLUK locksmith will require 3 of these over 9 years to be able to enter into our Master Locksmith Covenant which is a award in skill and professionalism and recognises the skilled locksmith as a master of the trade. 

 

To be able to acquire the GMLUK awards so each locksmith must meet a strict criteria which is delivered by our LTTA certified locksmiths who themselves are governed by our Master Locksmith Covenant. This way we can make sure that the locksmith that's teaching has the highest credentials and has the success of their business and time served to be able to offer such training and pass on real world education. 

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The criteria of the LTTA to be able to award the GMLUK Awards: 

 

1. Each instructor who delivers the GMUK award must have a minimum of 10 years Locksmith service as a self-employed locksmith with proof of business establishment, 10 years of TAX based records, proof of business and insurance along with any online ratings, reviews, photos or videos of past work to be taken into consideration. 

2. The instructor must carry the GMLUK Master Locksmith Covenant Award which is a certification in excellence for every 3 years of trading for minimum of 9 years with a perfect record in exemplary locksmith business work proved with real and checked 5-star reviews, business records before they can undertake the LTTA award!

3. That instructor must have made a net income from their business of between £50k to £70k per year for a minimum of 5 years of trading as proof of excellence in the industry. 

4. They must be able to show a customer record of reviews and recommendations to prove they offer the best service to the customer and that they put the customer first.

5. The instructor who teaches the GMLUK awarded training must have undergone the Guild of Master Locksmiths LTTA certification which is a training award that a locksmith can earn by undergoing the LTTA training program. The LTTA is the Locksmith Teacher Training Association and Award. It's an award in further education meeting all requirements set out for a teaching qualification but it's based on locksmith training and delivering Locksmith based education, courses and classes. You will also have to pass a series of examinations based on adult learning and course delivery. Each person taking the LTTA are tested to the highest level possible in all areas of the locksmith trade. 

6. They must carry a separate qualification in training such as a PTLLS in Teaching in the Lifelong Learning Sector or the new AET level 3 Award in Education and Training This nationally recognized qualification carries 12 QCF credits which is the Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF) and demonstrates our competence and readiness to work as a teacher, trainer, or tutor in various educational settings.

7. The student will undertake a foundation level for maximum of 6 weeks (Apprentice based education)

8. The student must pass a physical and written exam and test to be able to move to the next award and certification. 

9. To be able to achieve a level 3 award from Guild of Master Locksmiths then that student must have undertaken no less than 36 weeks of locksmith training

10. The student must have worked on real doors, windows and real homes and not just classroom-based training.

11. To receive the level 4 award takes a locksmith 12 months of training to achieve with on-the-job training.

12. Each locksmith must show exemplary standards, such as 5-star customer reviews which is awarded with certificates of excellence after year 3 of trading. 

13. The student must enter into our Master Locksmith Award program to receive full certification which is an additional 10 years of trading as a locksmith with at least 3 awards in excellence.

 

We will also consider any other awards that you have gained from your past but such as Business Management degrees. Our instructors who have also come from alternative education-based backgrounds. The PTLLS qualification was previously the Level 3 Award in Preparing to Teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector. However, it has now been updated and replaced by the Level 3 Award in Education & Training (AET). 

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The Guild of Master Locksmiths hold our locksmiths to the highest standards in the UK. Our award system is specifically designed for locksmiths in the UK who wish to hold a certification which stands for more than a 1 - 5 days of mediocre training course which is offered by 99% of the locksmith training providers. Our locksmith training awards are not about money, it's not about numbers and they are completely free to hold. There are no fees or memberships. These are certificates in excellence, to show that you have gone beyond the requirements set out by todays locksmith training providers. You have not only dedicated the time, but you have trained longer than any other locksmiths in the UK. You demonstrate a knowledge higher than any other locksmith in the UK and you are master at your trade and recognised as such. 

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How do you undertake this award?

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You will need to contact us below to register your interest and one of our GMLUK trainers will contact you to find out more and offer any advice and answer any question about the awards.