Locks and Security News: your weekly locks and security industry newsletter
17th April 2024 Issue no. 701
Your industry news - first
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Golden Key Awards nomination
I would like to nominate my apprentice Mr Aaron Hammond aged 19 for the Golden Key Award which I think is a great way of highlighting the need for the correct training for young people coming into the locksmith and security industry.
As a company we were looking to take on an apprentice back in May 2011 to train as a bench locksmith in our main branch, but as you are aware there is no formal apprenticeship in place for locksmiths so we were able to take Aaron on under the umbrella of a one year retail shop apprenticeship with us adding our own bench locksmith training schedule of tasks for him to complete on a day to day basis.
In May 2011 I interviewed Aaron among seven other candidates for the job and I could see a spark in Aaron although he was very shy at the time
After leaving school Aaron went to college to learn plumbing and he completed a year but he felt that there was no chance of a job at the end of the course and decided to sign up for the young apprenticeship scheme so that he could earn a wage whilst learning a trade.
Since joining us I have notice a big change in him as he has become more confident and he takes a pride in his work and he works well in the team environment and it is for that reason that he became a full employee in May of this year as our training and investment in him had paid off.
On a day to day basis Aaron is now capable of master keying the full range of Mul-T-lock cylinders, making keys to old mortice locks, producing keys to code, and making a cast key to a chuch lock and many other bench locksmiths jobs under the guidance of my branch manager and myself, and the great thing is that he is alway willing to listen and absorb information from experienced members of staff and put this into practice. He also makes a very good cup of coffee which is also very important as an apprentice !!
Aaron still has a lot to learn but training in a busy locksmith shop is the best training that you can have as there is such a wide variety of jobs to be completed and he has also learnt to deal with the general public on the phone and at the shop counter and also work with other more experienced locksmiths as part of a team.
I would have no hesitation in nominating Aaron for the award.
Regards
Nick Williams
Managing Director
Brinnick Locksmiths and Security Ltd
4th July 2012