When most people start a business, it takes meticulous planning, spreadsheets, and forecasts. But for Kenny Grant and Liz Dawson of KG Key Services in Edinburgh and Glasgow, it all unfolded by accident; a series of unexpected life turns, injuries, setbacks, and a shared spirit of resilience.
What began with Kenny fixing locks after a devastating car accident and neck injury has grown into one of Scotland’s most respected names in auto locksmithing.
Embracing Life
Kenny told us: “I wasn’t supposed to be here, not in this industry, not a business owner, and not for nearly 30 years. In 1992, I was working as a joiner when a car accident changed everything. I broke my neck. I was in my early 20s and was too young to be thinking about retirement, and I wasn’t ready to stop working.
When I did eventually go back to working self-employed, it became clear that joinery wasn’t going to be an option anymore. So, I started doing bits and pieces, general maintenance, some lock fitting, mostly on domestic properties and commercial units. No big plans, just enough to keep me busy and pay the bills.
Then the calls about vehicles started coming in. I didn’t set out to be an auto locksmith, but one job turned into five, then ten. Word spread. It got to the point where domestic work dropped off, and the vehicle side took over. I had to learn fast. Back then, locksmithing was a small world. You got trained by other locksmiths already doing the job, one job at a time.
I officially launched KG Key Services in 1995. It was just me back then. Now, we’ve got an office, a workshop, and a team. Still no trade counter, just focused work – key cutting, master keying, programming and diagnostics. It’s evolved, but it’s always been about helping people who are stuck.”
A Business Built on Friendship & a Few Broken Bones
Liz Dawson joined the business in 1999. Liz said, “I’d been doing Kenny’s bookkeeping for a while on a self-employed basis, but I had met Kenny years earlier at a model railway club; Kenny is big into trains. I was helping at an event, and we just clicked. I wasn’t supposed to be there, I was in the territorial army and had broken my ankle in three places, I only came along to help a friend and to get out of the house. I said to Kenny “if you ever need a hand, give me a shout.” and he did.”
Liz became a partner in the business and now runs the office alongside Carole-ann. Kenny continued, “Liz is sharp, no-nonsense, and knows the difference between a Hyundai and a Ford remote just by scanning the screen. I don’t mess with her office systems – well, not unless I want a fight.” Liz commented, “It’s like a sibling rivalry, really. We both know our areas and we both overstep sometimes. But it works. That’s the beauty of a strong partnership.”
Then there’s Gerry Dawson, who’s Liz’s husband. He used to be the operations manager for a major car transporter company. One week, Kenny hurt his back and asked if he could help-out and he agreed. Gerry told us, “That was over a decade ago, and I’m still here. With my background in heavy vehicle recovery, I bring extra experience and calmness under pressure.”
Liz, his wife, added: “Gerry is great with customers, he just gets on with people, he loves to chat and has a genuine interest in people and loves helping them out of difficult situations. Our team has been through a lot together. Our son Darren suffered a brain haemorrhage just before lockdown and was critically ill. It was terrifying, but somehow, the business became a lifeline for all of us. Gerry was off during that time. I could work from home. It meant no one had to give up their job, and we all pulled together to keep things going. Darren is now studying law at Dundee University in his 3rd year and is smashing it!”
A special mention has to go to Douglas, the van dog, the lovely black labrador who helps Gerry with jobs by demanding affection from every customer we attend. He was almost banned from one of the garages we visit, due to all staff saying hi to him instead of working!
Behind the Calls: Carole-Ann
Carole-Ann, who has worked alongside Kenny and Liz for nearly two years, brings a wealth of experience from the motor trade and now helps manage the office, dealing with customer queries, quotes, bookings, and payments for KG Key Services. “It’s a great company to work for, Kenny keeps things relaxed, updates me regularly, and we all get on really well.” she says.
Though she wasn’t originally from a domestic locksmithing background, she’s learned the ropes quickly, especially when it comes to the complexities of auto keys. “There’s a lot more to it than people think, it’s a minefield! But I love speaking to people and helping them when they’re in trouble.”
From Tools to Technology
Kenny told us, “When I started auto locksmithing, you could get away with a good file and a bit of patience. Not anymore. Now, you need around £50,000 worth of kit just to stay competitive – dealer-level diagnostics, laptops, programming devices, security authorisations. We’ve spent a year getting full Mercedes approval. You need enhanced DBS checks, proof of trading, and licensing. There are login systems with triple sign-in protection that would make a hacker cry (hopefully).”
“We’re dealing with vehicles right up to 2025 and beyond, replacing locks, keys switches, ECUs, and all sorts of modules. Most of it is electrical now. Work is never boring because no two jobs are ever the same. One minute we’re out at 3am in the rain helping someone get back into their car, the next we’re working with the police on a stolen vehicle case that’s been missing over a year.”
“People think auto locksmithing is just about cutting keys. It’s not. You’ve got to diagnose complex faults, understand how modules talk to each other, and stay a step ahead of tech’ that changes constantly. If I could change anything, I’d ban push-button starts, because they are way too easy to steal.”
Sometimes it’s Hard Not to Laugh
Locksmithing work can be stressful, and people get themselves stuck in awful situations and predicaments. Sometimes it’s hard not to laugh. Recalling funny stories, Kenny told us, “A drunk lady got locked out of her home, so decided to climb through a window, but also climbed through the venetian blind too and got awfully tangled in it. To top it off, she was had the key all along and was just using the wrong one.”
“I was called by the police to help a guy who was locked out of his property and had got his hand caught in the letterbox. All 3 emergency services were called to one guy who was stuck there for hours. His neighbour wrapped him in a blanket until the fire brigade came. That one stuck with me.”
Carole-Ann recalled a recent job where a customer’s missing keys were eventually found on the roof rack after a ferry crossing, just one of many light-hearted moments in a job that mixes problem-solving with people skills.
We Never Chased Growth. It Just Found Us!
“I’m turning 60 this year. We’re happy with where the business is. Growing bigger just means more problems. We’ve built something sustainable, something that supports our families and keeps us interested. That’s a win in my book.
Everything that’s happened – KG, our team, even becoming a specialist in vehicle locksmithing business, none of it was planned. It all happened by accident. But sometimes, the best things do.
