Page 18 - Real Rochdale Issue 22 Summer 2024

Rochdale 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
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 –
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 Managing director Chris Nuttall (right) with the Rochdale mayor at the
anything’ for their customers. Rochdale Competitive Connections event in 1999
The team at Rothwells
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 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.”