It was Dawn Neill's wedding anniversary yesterday  - on Valentine's Day. The former driving instructor is one of our new  healthcare assistant apprentice cohort (see the group photo attached) and the latest colleague to feature in our popular Hello My Name Is... series.

Hello my name is… 

Dawn Amanda Neill  - a new starter at HRI and an Apprentice Healthcare Assistant. I’ve recently decided to have a career change as I’d had enough of being a driving instructor which I did for many years self-employed. I took some time out of work to start a family in the early noughties and have two ‘children’, the eldest of which is now looking to go to university. How time flies! I’ve been married for nearly 15 years and Valentine’s Day is our anniversary.

What is your position?  

Currently Apprentice Healthcare Assistant, previously Advanced Driving Instructor.

Tell us about your career background.

I’ve had a varied background culminating in being a driving instructor. Many years ago, I worked in the motor industry on the reception desk of a large car dealership. My interest in driving may well have stemmed from there. I’ve also had plenty of care roles in various homes around Huddersfield.

What is the best bit about being a driving instructor? 

I enjoy meeting new people. It involves working with young people who are just starting out in life. I can think that I’ve contributed to them improving themselves as people and giving them a life skill which they’ll never forget.

What is the highlight of your career so far?

The highlight of my career so far had to be teaching my own daughter to drive who passed first time within four months of her seventeenth birthday!

Sum up your role in three words.

Rewarding, stressful and fun.

What did you want to be when you were growing up?

A nurse. I met my husband young and we had kids quite early so this never really happened for me but now that the kids have grown up – who knows.

When you are not at work, how do you relax?

I walk my dog and socialise at a weekend like most people. I sometimes go to a local gym and run with my husband when he can be bothered.

What is your favourite place?

Bangkok. A vibrant place which we were lucky enough to live in for a while in the early 2000s. I’d love to go back in the near future and show my kids where we lived.

What would people be surprised to know about you?

I’ve only ever read one book in my whole life! I’m just not into reading books, I much prefer magazines. The book was an autobiography by Jade Goody and I only read this as it was a similar experience that my mum was going through at the time.