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Locksmith Training in Gateshead & Cornwall

With Taylors Locksmiths Training Academy — Established 1981

Welcome to Taylors Locksmith Training Academy, proudly part of Taylors Locksmiths, one of the UK’s oldest locksmith companies, originally founded in 1948. With a long-standing heritage in both Gateshead and Cornwall, we offer leading locksmith training courses tailored for real-world success since 1981.

Taylors have long been a name recognised with quality locksmith skills and training in the UK. We contracts with many housing companies, local authorities, councils, police and more.

Accredited, Experienced & Professionally Certified Trainers

Every one of our trainers and training locations is LTTA Certified — holding the Level 6 Locksmith Teacher Training Award, the highest benchmark for locksmith-based education. This accreditation ensures rigorous standards in teaching and course delivery.

Our instructors also hold the Level 3 Award in Education & Training (AET), previously known as PTLLS, alongside a range of certifications including:

City & Guilds
NCFE
Specialist accreditations in areas such as uPVC fitting, tilt & turn window systems, and more.
Many locksmith awards

We are:

Full Members of GMLUK – The Guild of Master Locksmiths UK
Safe Contractor UK Approved Trainers – SCAUK Certified

Unique Training Model: Business-Focused Locksmith Education

Unlike most training providers, we don’t just teach you locks — we teach you the locksmith business. We are the only locksmith training provider in the UK offering a business-based training model that focuses on launching and running a profitable locksmith business.

Whether you're just starting out as a sole trader, transitioning into the locksmith trade, or looking to expand your business knowledge — our practical, hands-on training will prepare you for real jobs and real income.

Read On....

Step 1 - Foundation Training LFA1 Certificate.

Start with Our Online Foundation Program

Once you’re fully booked and paid, you’ll begin with our Online Level 1 Foundation Award (LFA1) — the essential starting point for all trainees.

This pre-course training gives you a solid grounding in:

How locks work, fail, and common faults
The tools of the trade — what we use daily, what’s essential, and what to avoid wasting money on
Hands-on theory to prepare you for real-world locksmithing

Why the Foundation Course Matters

Students who complete the LFA1 Foundation Course see significantly higher success rates. That’s because the course includes:

One-to-one video coaching
On-demand training videos
Clear explanations of practical tools and techniques

It builds your confidence and knowledge before stepping into hands-on training.

Format & Duration

This is a 4-week pre-course program, requiring just a few hours each week. You can complete it at your own pace, ensuring you're ready for the in-person training that follows.

Step 2 - One to One Training Level 3 Award

At Taylors Locksmith Training Academy, almost all of our training is delivered one-to-one, unless otherwise specified for small group sessions (maximum of six students). This ensures dedicated, hands-on instruction, allowing you the time and space to ask questions and receive real-world, practical guidance tailored to your pace and goals.

Learn from a Master Locksmith & Business Mentor

Your instructor, Steve Taylor, is more than just a master locksmith — he’s a skilled and intuitive teacher who brings out the best in every student. Steve identifies your strengths and weaknesses, building your confidence from the ground up.

By the end of your training, you won’t just know how to be a locksmith — you’ll have the mindset, tools, and business insight to thrive in the real world.

Training That Builds Businesses

Steve is a third-generation locksmith and a seasoned entrepreneur who has successfully launched over 40 locksmith businesses across the UK, with many of his students now running six-figure operations.

[See Our Portfolio]

When you train with Taylors, you’re not just learning a trade — you’re building a future.

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The UK’s Only Full Locksmith Training Campus

Taylors Locksmith Training Academy is proud to offer the world’s only dedicated locksmith training campus, set on a 20-acre site — along with three additional training locations across the UK.

When you train with us, accommodation is included on our main campus, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in the locksmith trade without distractions.

Purpose-Built Facilities for Real-World Training

Our campus features specialist training zones tailored to every aspect of locksmithing, including:

uPVC and multi-point locking systems
Wooden doors and mortice/lever locks
Safes and high-security systems
Auto locksmithing and vehicle lock work
Forensic locksmithing — with a full forensic lab area
A metalwork shop for van lock fitting and tool modification
A main training hall with every lock type at your fingertips

Real Environments, Real Hands-On Experience

Training at Taylors is never just classroom theory. You’ll work in four fully-equipped buildings, each simulating real environments with a wide range of:

Doors
Windows
Locks
Security hardware

Whether indoors or out on-site, everything is hands-on and practical, giving you the skills and confidence to handle real-world jobs from day one.

Cornwall lock lab, CDLT. Cornwall and Devon Locksmith Training. Training room. Desks, lock

Step 4 - Train on Real Homes & Commercial Property!

At Taylors Locksmith Training Academy, every course is built around real environments and real hands-on work — not just classroom theory.

If you're training at our 20-acre Cornwall campus, you’ll move between multiple buildings and property types across the site. You'll gain practical experience working on:

UPVC French doors, lift-and-slide doors, and composite doors
Standard and automatic multi-point locking systems
Wooden doors, caravan doors, and UPVC setups
Vehicle locks — including cars, vans, and motorcycles
Commercial setups — from shop shutters and vending machines to arcades, offices, and safes
Desk locks, cash boxes, and fire-rated doors and hardware and much more!

Train in Real-World Situations — Not Simulated Scenarios

We believe the best way to master locksmithing is to learn in stages, across a wide variety of real-world setups — not just on demo boards.

By working on real homes, with real people and real challenges, you'll build skills that classroom-based courses simply can’t offer.

You won’t just walk away with knowledge — you’ll leave with the confidence and experience to handle any situation you're likely to face as a professional locksmith.

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Step 5 - Train on Real Jobs with Real Customers!

At Taylors Locksmith Training Academy, we go beyond theory. Wherever possible, we’ll get you out on real jobs with real customers during your training — so you can learn by doing, not just watching.

You'll experience the full lifecycle of a locksmith job, including:

Listening in on real customer phone calls
Learning how to secure face-to-face quotes and win the job
Carrying out the work professionally and confidently
Advising customers and pricing accurately
Taking payments using our business app (which you'll be fully trained on during your business development modules)

Business Training That Reflects Real Life

You’ll gain insight into:

How we earn 5-star reviews
How to handle warranties, pricing, and legal matters
Financial tips for running a healthy locksmith business
Real-world job types: from evictions and emergency callouts to warrants and routine daily work

Break It Down, Learn It All

After each live job, we’ll sit down together and break it all down:

Parts used
Job costing
Profit margins
Techniques and decision-making
What worked, what didn’t — and how to apply it to your own business

This isn’t just training. This is living the life of a working locksmith — so when you go out on your own, you’ll be ready for anything.

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We supply your tools!

No Hidden Upsells — Just the Tools You Actually Need

At Taylors Locksmith Training Academy, we don’t believe in surprise upsells during or after your course — unlike many other locksmith training providers in the UK.

Most of our courses include a full mobile locksmith tool kit, carefully assembled to get you up and running from day one.

Only Add Your Basic DIY Tools

The only extras you’ll need are standard DIY tools such as:

18v or 20v Drill
Angle grinder
Screwdrivers, basic DIY tools etc.

If you prefer, we can supply these too as part of an all-in-one professional tool kit, available on select courses with a higher spend level.

The Same Tools Our Pros Use

Our kits contain all the essential technical tools required to run a locksmith business in the UK — no gimmicks, no fluff. It’s the exact kit used by our working locksmiths at Taylors, tested daily in real jobs across the country and it features our own bespoke tools made in house.

When you train with us, you don’t just leave with knowledge — you leave ready to work.

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Smart Stock Solutions — Built into Your Training

Depending on the course you choose, we offer pre-built stock packages in various sizes, tailored to match the real needs of working locksmiths.
We know exactly what stock works, what sizes you'll need, and how to avoid wasting money on unnecessary or incorrect items.

Trade Accounts & Exclusive Supplier Discounts

We’ve partnered with leading locksmith suppliers to give you a head start. During your training, we’ll:

Introduce you to our trusted suppliers
Help you set up your own trade accounts
Give you an exclusive 10% discount — just for training with Taylors

Over time, this discount alone can save you thousands of pounds — putting money back into your business where it belongs.

Think pound smart, not penny smart. The right tools, the right stock, and the right supplier relationships make all the difference.

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Step 6 - Business Development Training:

Earn from £15K to £100K+

Unlock the Path to a Six-Figure Locksmith Business

At Taylors Locksmith Training Academy, we don’t just train locksmiths — we build businesses. We're renowned for helping students grow from start-ups into six-figure operations. That’s our speciality — and the reason why the most ambitious and business-minded individuals choose Taylors.

Any locksmith can teach you how to open a door. Only Steven J. Taylor can teach you the strategies that turned his skills into financial freedom.

Learn from a Proven Entrepreneur & Mentor

Steven made his first £1 million by the age of 30, and has since built a portfolio that includes:

Ownership of a 22-acre holiday park and training campus in Newquay
Multiple successful locksmith companies across the UK
Several non-locksmith ventures and investment assets
A private wealth strategy built on stocks, ETFs, and passive income

His business model has transformed the lives of many — and as part of your course, you’ll gain direct mentorship from Steven himself.

Mentorship That Goes Beyond Locksmithing

This isn’t just about keys and locks. It’s about:

Mindset and financial literacy
Building wealth and scaling businesses
Understanding assets, income strategy, and long-term success

Feel free to ask Steven about his journey, his investment strategies, or how he built an empire from scratch. Because when you train with Taylors, you’re not just learning a trade — you’re learning how to change your life.

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Steve picking up his first supercar!

Business Development & Branding Course

Everything You Need to Build and Launch a 6-Figure Locksmith Business

Our Business Development course is designed to give you more than just skills — it gives you a complete, proven system to build, launch, and grow a professional locksmith business from scratch.

This isn’t theory. These are real strategies used by Taylors Locksmiths and dozens of successful businesses we’ve helped build across the UK and its in video format with one to one online coaching.

What You’ll Learn:

✅ Marketing & Sales Mastery

Our proven sales and conversion strategies
How to price jobs for profit while staying competitive
Building effective marketing funnels and follow-up tactics
Understanding colour psychology and how to use it in branding
Learn graphic design skills to create your own leaflets, van graphics, business cards, and social content

✅ AI, SEO & Digital Marketing

Use AI tools to design marketing materials, write blogs, and create SEO-boosting content
SEO training to help you get found online, rank locally, and save £1000s by doing it in-house
Learn GEO targeting, content mapping, and how to use blog posts to generate leads
Get full Google My Business training — prevent terms of service violations and protect your listing

✅ Legal, Business Setup & Compliance

Understand UK consumer law, data protection, and all legal requirements for setting up a locksmith business
Learn about trading standards, terms and conditions, and how to protect yourself legally
How to register your business, set up for tax, take a wage, and work with an accountant
Opening trade accounts for stock and tools — we show you how to save money and get exclusive discounts

What’s Included in the Course:

✔️ Full business operations training – Learn exactly how Taylors runs successful locksmith businesses
✔️ A custom 6-page website built by our design team at Blue Reef Designs (Newquay)
✔️ Professional branding and custom logo design
✔️ SEO-optimised content written and ready to launch
✔️ Google Maps listing setup with full profile optimisation
✔️ Custom video adverts and branded social media templates
✔️ 1:1 mentorship with Steven J. Taylor — third-generation locksmith and serial entrepreneur

We Don’t Just Train You — We Launch You

By the end of this course, you’ll walk away with:

A fully branded and optimised locksmith business, ready to trade
The skills to run, market, and grow that business
The mindset and strategy to reach six figures and beyond

“We don’t just teach locksmithing. We create entrepreneurs and build success stories.”

24 Hour, 24 Month Support Package!

Ongoing Support — You're Never On Your Own

At Taylors Locksmith Training Academy, our support doesn’t end when your course does. We’re committed to your long-term success, and that’s why we provide up to 24 months of unlimited aftercare and business support — completely free.

Whether you're stuck on a job, unsure about a contract or tender, or need business advice — we're here for you, 24/7.

You’ll Have Direct Access to Us Anytime, Including:

📞 24-Hour Phone Support – Speak to a real expert when you need it most
💬 24-Hour Text & Image Messaging – Get fast advice via photos or text
📧 24-Hour Email & Video Messaging – Send us video clips or emails for detailed help
📹 Live Video Call Support – Show us the job in real-time and we’ll guide you through it step-by-step
🚗 Emergency On-Site Assistance (Local Only) – If you’re nearby and hit a wall, we’ll come to you!

Book Your Locksmith Course Today!

Please feel free to contact us to learn more. We work with all budgets in all areas of the UK. We can train you, stock you and build your business and brand and launch you into the UK market as a locksmith business.

Please note that we only take 4 Elite Training Student's each year. You will need to undertake a phone or video interview for a position with us. You will also required DBS/CRB or UKVS certificate within the last 5 years.