Meet Kyle Chance, a former postman in Boston, Lincolnshire, who transformed his lock picking hobby into a nationwide locksmithing and security contracting business, Entry Solutions Locksmiths. For locksmiths and security professionals, Kyle’s journey is a testament to determination, entrepreneurial spirit, and the power of versatility in an ever-evolving trade.
A Hobby that Became a Calling
I started lock picking about six or seven years ago. Honestly, I didn’t think much of it at first, just messing about with locks in my spare time. But when I was opening locks consistently, I felt good at it. That satisfaction, the mental challenge, it stuck with me. I put myself out there as a part-time locksmith while still working as a postman. I had £12,000 in savings, a friend lent me a van for six months, and I reinvested every penny I earned into the right tools and parts. Gearboxes in doors, three-star picks, curtain picks, decoders – I made sure I had everything for the common jobs, because going back to a job twice just wastes time and is disappointing for the customer.
Delivering Security, Not Letters
I wanted out of Royal Mail. £400 a week wasn’t enough earnings, to support my growing family, and I knew I wanted more than delivering letters. Becoming self-employed, being my own boss, was the best decision I’ve ever made. My step count might be down now, but the freedom, the mental challenge, and the variety make every day worth it. It’s the only job I’ve ever loved, and I’ve found that I thrive being outside of my comfort zone.
Building the Business
When I went full-time two to three years ago, I started with basics – repossessions, warrants, reactive maintenance. Now I have a network of 70 approved, vetted contractors nationwide who can handle everything from boarding and locksmithing to glazing and access control. I’ve got three to four lads doing warrants a day, covering from Cornwall to Scotland, Birmingham, everywhere. We also provide services to Merlin Entertainment (Thorpe Park etc) and we’re talking to similar large companies for more big contracts.
A lot of my growth has come from diversification. I say yes to jobs most would turn down. Doing boarding, glazing, access control – it makes people’s lives easier, being able to do it all, and they know they can rely on us. Every month something big is happening; it feels like business is snowballing. People come to me when they have a sticky situation and I sort it out for them.
Building My Confidence: Mentors
I owe a lot to mentors like Spencer Pittam and Seth Ryden. Without them, I wouldn’t have had the confidence to tackle what I do today. I went on their UPVC opening and repair course at Fortress Locksmithing Training in Blackburn, learning mechanisms and how to deal with new and different types of doors. At the moment, every three or four months I do a new course, such as Paxton and Hikvision, I like to stay ahead of the game learning everything I can about access control – fob programming, bi-pass, and communal flats. Once you know what you’re doing, it’s not complicated. Mortice locks are being replaced by UPVC mechanisms, but access control is where the future is, particularly in care homes and schools.
I also enjoy locksport. Non-destructive bypassing is fascinating, a mental puzzle I simply can’t resist. That’s part of why I love this trade – the mental challenge, figuring things out on the fly, being out on the cold face.
Challenging Situations
Being a locksmith is unique. You go to a job with limited info and have to work it out on the spot. Signage, boarding, lock picking – we have to be reliable. I love being challenged every day. New doors, locks that haven’t been opened in 10 years, tricky mechanical issues – it keeps me on my toes.
What I hate? Waiting around. Sitting on a warrant for two hours while an engineer is delayed. It’s frustrating, and sometimes dangerous. You deal with criminals, drugs, and volatile situations, often for far less than the risk demands. But that’s the nature of the job, and it keeps me sharp.
Tools of the Trade
I’ve invested heavily in tools – all the 3-star picks, curtain picks, pinning cams, decoders. I don’t want to be destructive, whether it’s a domestic job or a warrant. I aim to get it done quickly, non-destructively on the same day, with low overheads, and keep on top of the game. Being ahead means I’m ready for anything the next day.
Family & Motivation
I have a Dalmatian and two young boys, aged one and four. Sometimes I take the kids on jobs, my eldest helps out with simple tasks like retaining screws on cylinders. One day, I hope they take over the business. It’s not just about me anymore, it’s about giving them a future I didn’t have.
Forever-moving Targets
Business growth is always on my mind and I like to challenge myself. I initially aimed to earn £1,000 a week in the first five years. I hit that in seven months. That’s the power of saying yes, diversifying your service offering, and building a trusted network. I’m looking to expand my network further – see below for more details.
Join the Entry Solutions Network
I’m always looking for skilled, reliable locksmiths, boarding specialists, and access control engineers to join my growing nationwide network. I’m currently looking for contractors across North Wales, North Scotland, the South Coast, and surrounding areas. If you’re experienced with domestic jobs, warrants, boarding-up, glazing or specialist commercial contracts, I would love to hear from you.
All contractors need to be fully vetted with DBS checks, insured and trained ready to do the job efficiently and safely. If you want to be part of a team that values expertise, reliability, and flexibility, get in-touch.
www.entrysolutions.co.uk
entrysolutionslocksmiths@gmail.com
07852 472448
Entry Solutions Locksmiths, based in Boston, Lincolnshire, is a full-service locksmithing company offering emergency lockouts, lock repairs, upgrades, high-security solutions, and insurance-approved installations. Founded by Kyle Chance, the company has grown from a single operator to a nationwide network of vetted contractors. Entry Solutions Locksmiths is fully accredited and insured, with a commitment to safety, reliability, and excellence in locksmithing.