“I want LockFit to be the name people think of first”

“I want LockFit to be the name people think of first”

Made redundant twice in two years, Matt Jacobs decided his future was better off in his own hands. Now a LockFit franchisee covering Caerphilly, Newport and the surrounding South Wales valleys, he’s building a local locksmith business rooted in his community, and a long-term ambition to make LockFit the first name people reach for.

From redundancy to running his own business 

For Matt, the path to franchising started with frustration. “I’d been made redundant twice in two years by the same company,” he says. “I was disillusioned with the idea of employment and wanted the freedom to run a business the way I wanted to.”

Locksmithing was a natural fit ,a trade he’d always been drawn to, long before the franchise opportunity came up. “The problem-solving aspect, along with the satisfaction of helping people in stressful emergency situations, has always been a driving force in my fascination with the trade.”

He weighed up the alternatives ,apprenticeships and the employment route ,before deciding franchising made the most sense. “The benefits outweighed all others in terms of the training, the media and marketing packages, and the support network.”

The support that made the difference 

Ask Matt what’s been most rewarding so far, and he doesn’t hesitate: the people around him.

“The support system is genuinely incredible. Fellow locksmiths who’ve been in my position are available to advise and help with any question, no matter how big or small.” He singles out the hands-on start to the LockFit journey, with on-the-job training delivered by founder Kevin and a fellow franchisee.

It’s also what he’d say to anyone weighing up the same decision. “You might think they just want to sell you a franchise and make as much money from you as they can. My experience doesn’t back that up at all. They want you to succeed.”

Learning the trade

He’s candid about the steepest challenge: the craft of locksmithing itself.

“Without attempting the jobs yourself, the sheer vastness of the terminology, the tools, the skills ,it can be quite overwhelming.” His answer was patience. “By taking my time to learn as much as possible and applying those skills to real situations, I’ve built an understanding of not just what each job needs, but the reasons behind it, and the confidence to explain what I’m doing to customers.”

That customer-first instinct shapes how he handles emergencies. “I gather as much information as I can on the first contact, and give safety advice straight away. If someone’s locked out in the rain, I’ll tell them to find shelter until I arrive.” The aim, he says, is to take the stress out of a stressful moment, and to leave every customer with home safety advice before he goes.

A local business, rooted in community

Matt lives in the area he serves, and sees that as his biggest asset. “I live in a close-knit community. Having my neighbours know they’ve got someone skilled, friendly and local should give them real comfort in an emergency. I want them to know I’m only a phone call or a text away.”

He’s already thinking about how to show up in person too. “Eventually I’d like to set up stalls at local festivals ,and there are plenty of them ,offering advice, basic repairs, and key-cutting once I’ve invested in that side of the business.”

Big ambitions 

His short-term focus is breadth: becoming proficient across as many areas of locksmithing as he can, while steadily building a network of local customers and businesses. The long-term goal is bigger ,and it sits right at the heart of what LockFit is building.

“My long-term goal is to become the brand that immediately comes to mind when people think of locksmithing. Rather than Googling ‘local locksmiths’, I want them Googling ‘LockFit’s phone number’.”

To get there, he’s planning to network with local lettings agents, councils and housing associations, and to add training courses in auto-locksmithing and advanced security as his job numbers grow.

It’s an ambition grounded in where he thinks the trade is going. “Security requirements are constantly growing. Criminals are getting more savvy, and the industry has to keep researching trends and developing new technology to keep people and property safe.”

Away from the van 

Self-described as a “social butterfly”, Matt is happiest surrounded by friends, and spends much of his free time hosting and attending gatherings. Quieter evenings are for films, drawn from a Blu-ray and DVD collection he’s clearly proud of.

He’s also a serious traveller. “When I was younger I set myself a goal of visiting 30 countries by the time I turned 30. I hit it. I’m 36 now, and 36 countries in, and I plan to add at least one a year from here.” Don’t get him started, he warns, unless you’ve got time for the stories.

His advice to anyone considering it

“Be confident. Know that you aren’t alone, and that feeling overwhelmed at the start is completely normal. Be yourself, set yourself short and long-term goals, and don’t be afraid to reach out to the team. The only stupid questions are the ones you don’t ask.”

And the bigger picture? “Joining LockFit has given me the freedom to set my own goals and, hopefully, get to a place where I’m happy to work every single day for the rest of my working life. I’m grateful for the chance to run a local business at my own pace, and build something I can genuinely be proud of.”

Thinking about a LockFit franchise? 

Matt’s story is one of many. If you’re ready to build a local locksmith business with a support network behind you, we’d love to hear from you.

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