Getting to know you: Rachel Taylor

What do you currently do?
I’m a director of Keycare – an independently owned family business set up by my late father Geoffrey in 1977 which is now the UK leader in the recovery of lost or stolen keys. As the only family representative on the board, I ensure we retain the company’s ethos and values that my father was passionate about – which include a culture which positively impacts on staff, customers, suppliers and the wider community.

What is your inspiration in the business
Keycare’s evolving and exciting journey – and how it continues to go from strength to strength as a niche company which is constantly evolving, innovating and improving as it moves to the next stage of its expansion and growth.

Who do you admire?
Nicky Kinnaird MBE, the founder of SpaceNK, the UK’s most successful high street beauty boutique. I admire the SpaceNK business model as a niche beauty provider and the fact that staff are extremely knowledgeable and epitomise excellence in customer service. I also respect Chrissie Rucker MBE who founded The White Company after she was unable to find quality bed linen and who also constantly strives for excellence.

Looking back are there things you would have done differently?
Like most people I’ve not always got things right but have learnt valuable lessons including the importance of investing in top performing people who are experienced in helping family businesses progress to the next level. My strategy for Keycare is to continue to seek out the top talent we need to deliver our niche offering across existing and new sectors.

What defines your way of doing business?
Transparency, integrity and honesty are core values which permeate Keycare which was doing business the ethical way before the term CSR existed. As a people champion which invests heavily in training and developing its people to reach their potential, we want the business to retain its buzz and be a fun place to work.

What advice would you give to someone just starting out?
Follow your dream and understand at the outset that it entails hard work at every stage of the journey. Be prepared to take the knocks and don’t take things personally. I saw the passion, persistence and belief my father Geoffrey constantly injected into the business to make it work. From him I also learnt that to achieve your vision you must ignore the detractors and never, ever give up.