Meet Tim Francis Locksmith. Veteran. Family man.
26 years serving in the Household Cavalry. A City & Guilds qualification paid for with an Army resettlement fund. A business started from boxes of locks in the back of the family car. Nearly 20 years and over 20,000 jobs later, I'm still the one who answers the phone.
Tim Francis
Founder & LocksmithThe story behind Millennium Locksmiths
My name is Tim Francis. I grew up in Buckinghamshire, left school at 16 and joined the Army that autumn. What followed was 26 years in the Bands of the Household Cavalry — one of the most prestigious regiments in the British Army.
I was a percussionist. I rode the famous Drum Horses. I played at the Wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer, the Queen's Golden Jubilee, Trooping the Colour on many occasions, and the Royal Tournament. I toured New Zealand and Finland. I rose to the rank of Band Corporal Major — the first time that post had been appointed from outside the Life Guards.
"The discipline of military life taught me that if a job is worth doing, it's worth doing properly. Every job, every time — no exceptions. That's the standard I've held Millennium Locksmiths to since day one."
I left the Army in 2004. I had a young family to support and wanted to work for myself. I chose locksmithing because it was a practical trade that required skill, worked closely with people, and — crucially — it was something I could build into a business I was proud of. I used my Army resettlement fund to study for a City & Guilds qualification in Locksmithing at Anvil Locks, and started out with a few tools and locks in boxes in the back of the family car.
In the early days I subcontracted for several national companies to build my skills and experience quickly. I soon learned that wasn't the kind of business I wanted to run — the focus was volume, not quality, and I saw too much shoddy work being passed off as acceptable. I went it alone as soon as I could.
I also approached an established local locksmith and asked if they would mentor me. Twenty years later, whilst we're technically competitors, we have a genuine friendship and occasionally help each other out when needed. That relationship tells you something about how the trade should work.
Today, Millennium Locksmiths has over 2,698 verified reviews and a 4.9-star rating across independent platforms. Customers regularly tell me they chose Millennium because of those recommendations — and that will always matter more to me than any advertising.
A career in numbers
Joined the Household Cavalry Bands
Left school at 16, joined the Army that autumn. Basic training followed by 6 months in the riding school — common to all Household Cavalry recruits.
State ceremonies & royal occasions
Rode the Drum Horse at the Wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer. Trooping the Colour on multiple occasions. The Royal Tournament. The Queen's Golden Jubilee. International tours to New Zealand and Finland.
Appointed Band Corporal Major — Life Guards
Asked to move across to the Life Guards as Band Corporal Major — the first time the post had been appointed from outside the regiment. Responsible for the day-to-day running and discipline of the band.
Left the Army. Retrained as a locksmith.
Used his Army resettlement fund to study for a City & Guilds qualification in Locksmithing at Anvil Locks. Started out with tools and locks in boxes in the back of the family car.
Founded Millennium Locksmiths
Registered the business. Built early reputation through Which? Trusted Traders, Checkatrade and Buckinghamshire Trading Standards. Committed to no call-out charges, fixed pricing and a genuine 24/7 service from the outset.
20,000+ locks. 2,698 verified reviews.
Nearly two decades serving Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Berkshire and surrounding areas. The same phone number. The same values. Still the one who answers the call.
Qualifications, accreditations & verification
The locksmith industry is unregulated in the UK — which means anyone can call themselves a locksmith. Every one of these accreditations can be verified independently before you call.
City & Guilds Qualified
Formal locksmithing qualification gained through Anvil Locks using the Army resettlement fund. Not a weekend course — a proper professional qualification.
Which? Trusted Trader
Which? carry out background checks, interview tradespeople, and read through a sample of customer reviews before approving membership. Independently verifiable at trustedtraders.which.co.uk.
Checkatrade Verified
All reviews on Checkatrade are verified as genuine by the platform's moderation team. Tim's profile shows the full unedited history going back years. Verifiable at checkatrade.com.
Buckinghamshire Trading Standards
Approved in partnership with Traders 4U and Buckinghamshire Trading Standards — a county-level endorsement that requires vetting, not just a fee. A mark of accountability.
Independent Locksmith Guild
Member of the ILG — a trade body that promotes professional standards in the locksmith industry. Unlike some membership bodies, the ILG checks its members' credentials.
DBS (Criminal Record) Checked
Tim is DBS checked and verified. When you open your door to a locksmith at midnight, you deserve to know who's standing on your step. This is non-negotiable.
How Tim runs the business — and why it matters to you
No call-out charge — ever
There has never been a call-out charge at Millennium Locksmiths. The price Tim quotes is for the work, not for turning up. He tells you the cost before he sets off, and that is the price on the invoice.
You speak to Tim — not a call centre
Every call to 07966 233092 goes directly to Tim. There is no call handler, no routing system, no stranger dispatched from a national directory. The person who answers is the person who turns up.
Non-destructive entry first, always
Tim uses non-destructive entry techniques wherever possible — the goal is to get you back in without replacing the lock. It saves you money. If the lock does need replacing, he tells you why before touching anything.
The van is stocked for a complete job
Twenty years of experience means Tim knows what he's likely to need. The van carries comprehensive stock across lock types and uPVC mechanisms. 99% of jobs are completed on the first visit — no return trips, no waiting for parts.
Honest advice — not upselling
Several reviews specifically mention that Tim replaced only what needed replacing and didn't push for unnecessary extras. The Army taught him that integrity matters. It still does.
All work is guaranteed
Every job Tim carries out is guaranteed. If something isn't right, he comes back and fixes it. That has been the standard since 2005 and has never changed.
What customers say about Tim
From 2,698 verified reviews across Which? Trusted Traders, Checkatrade, Trustist and Google.
"Excellent diagnosis and repair of a persistent lock issue that two other alleged locksmiths failed to resolve. Very pleased with Mr Francis."
"With over forty years in the property business, my company has only used Millennium Locksmiths for the past several years. They continuously demonstrate integrity — always advising the most appropriate solution, the best value. We consider this firm to be in the top five trades we have ever encountered."
"My locks needed changing following a burglary. Tim came quickly and knew exactly what to do so that any evidence was still there for the police. I chose to upgrade my locks and Tim reassured me my home was now well protected. Very professional service."
"After a rogue trader came and tried to get me in and failed after an hour, Tim came and got me in and sorted a new lock within 20 minutes. A professional trader with a legitimate company. 100% recommended."
"Tim truly was exceptional. The faulty lock was actually obsolete but Tim had a replacement on his van which was amazing. After fitting it, he identified the issue that caused the original damage and made adjustments to prevent it recurring."
"Arrived at scheduled time. Courteous and professional throughout. Upfront about pricing, did a quality job, and tidied up afterwards. Tim was great and I'd have no hesitation using him again."
The rogue locksmith problem — and why it matters
The locksmith industry in the UK is entirely unregulated. Anyone can call themselves a locksmith, advertise online, and turn up at your door. No training required. No checks. No accountability.
Tim has been fixing the damage left by rogue traders for nearly 20 years. The pattern is usually the same: a very low price quoted on the phone, a very different figure presented at the door once they have you in a vulnerable position. Sometimes they deliberately damage the lock to justify replacement. Sometimes they fit cheap parts and charge premium prices.
"I see rogue traders' work on a daily basis. The best way I know to protect people from them is to be completely verifiable before I arrive — so look me up on Checkatrade or Which? before you call. Then you'll know exactly who is coming to your door."
Tim's profile on Checkatrade and Which? Trusted Traders is publicly visible — every review, unedited, going back years. His credentials are independently verified. His pricing is fixed and communicated before he arrives. That transparency is deliberate — and it's the clearest protection Tim can offer against the alternative.
Areas Tim covers
Based in Prestwood, Great Missenden — serving across Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Berkshire.
Ready to call Tim?
No call centre. No call-out charge. Price agreed before he sets off.
The same phone number, the same values, since 2005.