We weren't so sure dd was ready for potty training either but we were!! so last summer we started. It took a lot of perseverance, looking for the 'signs' (i.e. dancing around, crossing her legs or 'screwing up her face' with straining), rushing to the toilet etc. etc. but now she is mostly trained.
We still have the occasional daytime accident - usually with poos - but we are regularly asking her if she needs to go to remind her and give her the opportunity to go. We used lots of 'over the top' praise and rewards (sweets, biscuit, stickers etc) when she did good and quietly got on with cleaning up the mess when not so good - sometimes saying "uh-oh". Spring/summer is the best time because they are not hindered by their clothes and if they're out in the garden much less of a big deal to clean up.
When at home she was in 'big girl' undies and when we went out she was in a pull up. Other thing we did - because she is so visual - is I'd take her to the toilet with me - and without being too graphic, made sure she understood why I was sitting on the toilet. We also went and bought a doll that pees and made it pee on the toilet or the potty - she found that interesting too. Mommy's turn, dolly's turn, T's turn.
The thing we found with DD was that we couldn't fluff around and sort of half-heartedly do it - it was all or nothing and we just had to go for it. It was very messy for a few months but eventually she got it.
Obviously I don't know your DD JakB but if you tried and perservered with training it could really pay off in the long run. It did for us and dd was basically non-verbal when we started.
Whatever you decide good luck.
P.S. look forward to meeting you in Brighton next week