Saltash-based locksmith Paul Bushell is actually AKA Sir Fix-A-Lock – but he does smile a lot.
In fact, Paul has plenty to smile about – with a very busy and successful business that he set up following a 25 year stint with the Royal Logistic Corps (RLC).
Paul was just 16 when he joined the Army from his home in County Down in Northern Ireland.
“If it hadn’t been for the Army I’d not be doing this,” he said. “The resettlement programme was very good, and they still look after you even after you have left.”
‘Sometimes I’m amazed I get paid for doing something I really like so much!’
“The Army gave me some great training and I really enjoyed it, spending most of my service career in Germany or in England,” he said. “But when it was time to leave, I decided locksmithing was the way forward for me. It’s proved to be a fantastic decision – I totally love my job and would never want to do anything else,” he told LSj. “Sometimes I am amazed that I get paid for doing something I really like so much!
“I have always liked helping people and this job enables me to do just that every single day.”
Paul’ss last job was as the Senior Permanent Staff Instructor at the Territorial Army bases in Plymouth and Bodmin.
He reached Warrant Officer Class 2 and was based with 155 Wessex Transport Regiment, where he trained TA troops.
Paul left the Army in December 2013 and, after training with some of the best in the business, including Keymaster’s Dennis Manning and Martin Newton of Safe Ventures, he launched his own business “Sir Fix a Lock”, after taking on the client list of another Plymouth firm: Bel-Cher Locksmith and Safe Engineer, because owner Chris Belcher – a famous name in the industry – has retired from the day-to-day locksmithing to concentrate on his many consultancy commitments and lock/lockpick projects. Besides taking over the clientele, Chris was key in helping Paul set up his business by training, mentoring and guiding him through the first three hectic years, as he juggled a full-time army career with his part-time locksmithing.
He has already learned a huge amount but is only too aware that in this business, nobody ever knows it all.
‘There is always something new to learn’
“There is always something new to learn,” he said. “That is probably why I like it – there’s always a fresh challenge ahead. Customers expect you to know the latest in security and so you do need to keep up to speed to make sure you can offer the full service.
“I do general locksmithing but specialise in Safes and PVCu,” said Paul, who paid tribute to his training and his valued mentors – especially Chris, Martin and Dennis who are, in his own words, some of the “top blokes” in the industry.
“I cannot speak too highly of them,” he said.
“Chris is still there for me should I need him – Dennis has a vast knowledge and despite being very busy, always has time to share information and offer advice. It is largely thanks to his expertise in PVCu training that I have been able to build up such good business in that sector where there is such a high demand– I made my money back within just a few weeks. I am grateful to Dennis because with PVCu you really cannot just blag your way through, it just isn’t good enough,” he added. “Martin has always helped out, no matter where in the world he has been and his long distance advice has saved me many hours of potential drilling!”
Demonstrating how much he has learned, at the last MLA Expo, Paul beat locksmiths from across Britain and Ireland to become the fastest to crack a jammed door lock in a challenge run by the firm Ultimate Tools.
THE FAST ANSWER TO URGENT JOBS!
Like all locksmiths, Paul runs a van but he does a lot of driving and found the van (called ‘Guinevere’ after King Arthur’s ill-fated Queen) was restricted by law to 60mph on dual carriageways and 50mph on A roads.
“I looked into it and discovered I could get an extra 10mph with an alternative vehicle for getting to emergency jobs faster. So I invested in a new BMW 650cc GT maxi-scooter. It does (ahem) 70 mph and rides like a dream – and if I know the job in advance, I can bring my tools with me.”
The super-scooter even has a personalised number plate: SLF – in honour of Paul’s favourite band, punk heroes Stiff Little Fingers.
“I first saw them in Germany in 1991 after I came back from the Gulf War,” he said. “I’ve seen them every year since 1999, hung round backstage and got to meet Jake Burns. Now I’m a friend of the band.”
The scooter and the van cover a lot of miles: Paul’s territory covers big chunks of Devon and Cornwall where his reputation certainly goes before him.
But it isn’t just his professional approach and winning smile that brings him business.
‘Customers have to have complete trust & confidence in us’
“I firmly believe that customers have to have complete trust and confidence in us,” he said. “We are willing to put our money where our mouth is in terms of quality of products and service and we set great store on genuine testimonials. I also offer fair prices and aim to give every customer complete satisfaction.”
In January 2013, Sir Fix-A-Lock was accepted and approved by the Trading Standards ‘Buy With Confidence’ scheme which underlines his own determination to raise the profile of the industry and “getting rid of any cowboys”.
Paul, who is married and has two sons living in Germany, offers discounts to senior citizens and to members of HM Armed Forces, NHS as well as estate agents and landlords.
Although he works long hours every day, he also finds time to support several charities, including Jeremiah’s Journey, which helps youngsters who have a parent who has died or who is terminally ill.
He helps by wearing the large teddy bear suit or raises money by selling, rather than scrapping, metal from old locks and safes.
“It makes sense to raise some money to do a bit of good for somebody less fortunate – and it is also better for the environment,” he said.
Paul feels strongly that there are so many people who are worse off than him and said: “If you can make someone smile on any day, that’s surely a good thing to do.”
Paul’s broad accent, his friendly, genuine smile, his enthusiasm for everything he does and his expertise, all go towards making him popular with his customers – and as a result, business is definitely booming!