Rachel Driscoll (Ne Ottery)

Born 1970 in Portsmouth, South England I Come from a business focused family background, where both parents worked from home most days, it was obvious from an early age I adapted well in any environment and working with people.  My father was involved in the growth of the computer and telecoms industry dealing in major bids and consultancy which moved us to London when I was five.  

Whilst studying her Bachelor of Arts Degree, My mother became Heineken business woman of the year for her company Send a Song in the early 80s bringing singing telegrams from the United States to the UK,  from the age of 10 I would take calls from potential clients, taking bookings, making diary entrants, etc, sometimes from celebrities and high profile clients, at one point I sold disposable swimming costumes to hoteliers around the UK during my school breaks. It was during these years I learnt about customer service and satisfaction, dealing with enquiries, managing calls, professionalism, time keeping. I even found time to help my mother during performances when she travelled the country with her acting career. I carried these skills into mother hood, having three children when I also learnt the importance of diplomacy and management.

My middle child had been challenging and when he was eight was diagnosed with R.A.D (Reactive Attachment Disorder) causing problems in school,  as this was a relatively new recognised condition in the UK little was known on the implications, most literature to be found was aimed at children in the care system.  Working alongside the teachers and a local child psychologist, I contacted the founder Nancy Thomas in the USA where I was able to compile an informative website for the UK and initiate an advice line for Birth parents of children with R.A.D, I became a special needs nursery nurse and worked in the education system with autistic children and children with complex learning difficulties until my children left school, it was at this time my partner heard news that his father had passed away, this caused him to fall into a major breakdown lasting two years where I supported and cared for him until a mutual friend convinced him to fix his van outside our house, from this one job it boosted my partners confidence enough to agree mechanising again, we found a small garage where my involvement included all administrative roles including customer relations, website and social media updates, book keeping, invoicing and ordering, processing payments, etc, the business grew from strength to strength and was able to move to a larger premises twice in ten years of trading, also gaining recognition from the A.A and winning Best Vehicle Repair Company West Yorkshire 2017.

Due to the dynamics between my partner and I, I take a background roll in his business, attending meetings where necessary, completing any administrative roles and focusing on the web including social media.

I have a strong belief in children and their use of imagination, I am currently learning sign language with my 8 year old grandson and teaching him that no matter how different, we are all the same. He is currently on the CAHMS waiting list for an Autism / Asperger diagnosis

I believe myself to be a fast learner and work well in a team although I am capable of working on my own initiative also.  Although I would not call myself a technology expert, I feel competent to work with various software and hardware and am not phased by new ones.

I am diagnosed with ADHD, EUPD and functioning Autism but that just helps me work in various roles and be ultra focused on each task that I am set.  It also helps me when working with children as I can be the child as well as the adult and understand where their mind is set or going