Meet Matt Ladds
The vehicle technician turned auto locksmith behind Key Genie, serving Reading and Berkshire in person, on-site, every job.
From Vehicle Technician to Auto Locksmith
Matt's career in the motor trade began in 2003, well before "auto locksmith" was ever part of his job title. He trained and worked as a vehicle technician, spending years on engine diagnostics, ECU programming and control module replacement — the kind of work that requires understanding a car's electronics from the inside, not just its bodywork or its locks.
That distinction matters more today than it did twenty years ago. A car key used to be a purely mechanical object: cut the right shape, and it worked. Modern keys aren't like that. A remote, smart or transponder key has to be recognised electronically by the vehicle's immobiliser before the engine will even turn over, and the same applies to steering locks, ignition barrels and the control modules behind them. As vehicle security shifted from mechanical to electronic over the 2000s and 2010s, the skills Matt had already spent years building — diagnostics, module-level fault-finding, dealer-level programming — became directly relevant to keys and locks.
He moved into automotive locksmithing full-time around five years ago, and now runs Key Genie as a mobile service across Reading and Berkshire. He's a sole operator by choice: no call centre answering enquiries, no subcontracted locksmiths sent out under the Key Genie name. If you call, you're speaking to the person who will actually turn up.
Why a Technician's Background Matters for Modern Key Faults
Most key and lock problems today aren't purely mechanical. A car that won't start might have a perfectly good key and a faulty steering lock instead — or a communication fault between the key and the immobiliser system rather than a damaged key at all. Getting that diagnosis right the first time is the difference between a straightforward fix and paying for a replacement part that was never the problem.
This is where Matt's diagnostics background changes the approach. A locksmith without that grounding can only really work from the outside in — try a new key, try a new fob, see if it helps. Matt starts from the electronics: checking whether the fault sits with the key itself, the ignition barrel, the steering lock module, or the immobiliser's communication with the engine control unit, before recommending any programming or parts replacement.
In practice, that's often meant avoiding an unnecessary replacement altogether. Rather than swapping a faulty electronic steering lock outright, for example, the vehicle's own data can sometimes be used to program a replacement unit or an emulator that restores ignition — a repair route that isn't available without that diagnostic step first. It's also why broken key extraction and fault-finding tend to go together on real call-outs: what looks like a snapped key is sometimes a symptom of a lock that was already failing.
Diagnosis before replacement
A recent example: a customer's Skoda had its key stolen along with a bag at the airport. Rather than a like-for-like key swap, the job needed a full lock-set replacement and reprogramming through Skoda's own dealer-level software, so the stolen key could be properly removed from the vehicle's system — not just made redundant.
Equipment Carried in the Van
The right tool depends on the vehicle and its security system, which is why Matt carries a combination of dedicated locksmith programmers, diagnostic platforms and manufacturer-level software rather than relying on one all-purpose device. Smart Pro, Autel, Xhorse and ACDP cover most key cutting and programming jobs; Lonsdor and online dealer tools fill in coverage for specific makes and newer security systems where required and supported.
For VW Group vehicles specifically, that includes access to ODIS, Volkswagen's own dealer-level diagnostic and programming software — the same platform a main dealer would use, rather than a third-party workaround. It's part of why VW, Audi, SEAT and Škoda make up a large share of the work Matt does, alongside BMW and Ford.
No Call Centre, No Subcontractors
Key Genie is built around a simple idea: the person you speak to on the phone is the person who does the work.
Every job is quoted, diagnosed and completed by Matt himself — not passed to a subcontractor.
No published price list, because the right price depends on the vehicle and fault — but no call-out fee, and the price is agreed before Matt sets off.
The same standard of diagnostic work applies whether it's a family car or a commercial van.
You speak to Matt directly by phone, not a booking centre reading from a script.
Credentials & Professional Standing
Matt is a member of the Institute of the Motor Industry, the professional body for people working across the UK motor trade.
Modern immobiliser and steering-lock systems are developed to standards set by bodies such as Thatcham Research, the UK's leading vehicle security research organisation — understanding how those systems work is central to diagnosing faults correctly.
Read genuine customer reviews on Key Genie's Google Business Profile.
Services, Areas & Vehicle Brands
Diagnostic-Led Services
View all services →Areas Covered
All Berkshire areas →Vehicle brands: particular experience with Volkswagen, Audi, BMW, Ford and Mercedes-Benz systems, alongside most other makes and models — see the full vehicle brands list.
About Key Genie — FAQs
Matt moved into automotive locksmithing full-time around five years ago, following two decades as a vehicle technician working on diagnostics, ECUs and control modules — the background that shapes how he approaches key and lock faults today.
No. Key Genie is Matt working as a sole operator. There's no team of subcontracted locksmiths operating under the name — the person you speak to on the phone is the person who attends your vehicle.
Matt's background is in vehicle diagnostics, not just locksmithing. Where many key faults today are electronic rather than purely mechanical, that means diagnosing the actual cause — the key, the ignition barrel, the steering lock or the immobiliser — before recommending a repair, rather than defaulting to a straight parts swap.
Yes, alongside petrol and diesel vehicles. Key and immobiliser systems on EVs and hybrids follow the same electronic principles, and Matt's equipment covers programming and diagnostics for most current manufacturers.
Call 0118 469 3408 directly, or use the contact form with your vehicle details. There's no call-out fee, and the price is always agreed before Matt attends.
Ready to talk to Matt directly?
Call 0118 469 3408 or send your vehicle details online.