Summer 2024Rochdale engineering and MRO supplier Rothwells celebrates its 70th anniversary

Independent family business H Rothwell & Co Ltd, locally known as Rothwells, celebrates seven decades in business this July.

In 1954, WW2 veteran Herbert Rothwell opened the current Duke St premises to sell tools and various ironmongery to local trades.

It’s said that he built the internal warehouse racking in such a fashion that it could be easily dismantled and broken down into ammunition, should another war come to pass.

Luckily, no such war was on the horizon and the Rothwell family operated the company until its acquisition by Roy Nuttall in 1992. One year later, Roy became chairman of Rothwells as his son Chris was appointed managing director.

The father and son duo went on to expand Rothwells’ product ranges over the next two decades; branching into machine tools and oils, specialist engineering supplies, PPE, branded workwear, spill control, health and safety and cleaning supplies.

When Roy passed away in 2017, they had transformed Rothwells from a simple ‘nuts and bolts’ shop to an established manufacturing and engineering supplier.

Chris Nuttall commented: “My dad worked in the business until the week before he passed away, at the age of 87! I think he’d be very proud that we’re celebrating 70 years but not surprised – he was an old-school secretary and an expert in business longevity.”

As well as careful business planning, Chris puts the company’s long-standing success down to hard work and a team that will source ‘just about anything’ for their customers.

Over the years, the company has supplied beekeeper’s suits, daffodil bulbs, a fridge, 7,500 rain ponchos for the commonwealth games, a large water feature for a sixth form college, and even some dog seizers for local dog wardens.

Many of Rothwells’ staff have served for between 20 and 30 years, making the team an invaluable knowledge pool for local manufacturers and engineers in need of a wide range of supplies.

To welcome in a new decade and a new generation of business, in 2020, Chris was joined by his daughter Charlotte Nuttall.

Charlotte became Rothwells’ digital operations and marketing manager, tasked with modernising the company’s internal and external systems as part of its futureproofing plans. She is currently leading the company’s milestone project – a new B2B trade portal – which is set to launch later this year.

Charlotte said: “We’ve been working on modernising the business for several years, with a new internal system installed in 2023. Now it’s time to bring our customer-facing systems up to speed as well.”

The new B2B portal will allow their current and future customers to order online and is a huge step forward for the business, which started long before the age of emails and the internet.

Chris Nuttall commented on the future of the business and the trading conditions currently facing Rochdale businesses: “As an older company whose systems used to be pen and paper, it’s amazing to see what today’s technology can offer. Not only the efficiency and convenience of digital working, but the data analytics that can be used to drive business decisions.

“In such a tough economic climate, especially for independent local businesses, it’s essential to use technology to our advantage. We must make every effort to keep costs low whilst still servicing our customers in the best way possible.

“I’m very much looking forward to what the future may hold for both Rothwells and the town. Rochdale itself is becoming a real business hub that we can all be proud of.”