Page 19 - Real Rochdale Issue 22 Summer 2024

Rochdale engineering and MRO Over the years, the company
has supplied beekeeper’s suits,
supplier Rothwells celebrates its daffodil bulbs, a fridge, 7,500
rain ponchos for the
commonwealth games, a large
70th anniversary 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. The team at Rothwells

To welcome in a new decade a new B2B trade portal – which business, which started long
and a new generation of is set to launch later this year. before the age of emails and
business, in 2020, Chris was the internet.
joined by his daughter Charlotte said: “We’ve been
Charlotte Nuttall. working on modernising the Chris Nuttall commented on
business for several years, with the future of the business and
Charlotte became Rothwells’ a new internal system installed the trading conditions
digital operations and in 2023. Now it’s time to bring currently facing Rochdale
marketing manager, tasked our customer-facing systems businesses: “As an older
with modernising the up to speed as well.” company whose systems used
company’s internal and to be pen and paper, it’s
external systems as part of its The new B2B portal will amazing to see what today’s
Independent family business H Rothwell & Co Ltd, locally known futureproofing plans. She is allow their current and future technology can offer. Not only

as Rothwells, celebrates seven decades in business this July. currently leading the customers to order online and the efficiency and convenience
company’s milestone project – is a huge step forward for the of digital working, but the data
analytics that can be used to
In 1954, WW2 veteran Herbert Rothwell workwear, spill control, health and safety and drive business decisions.
opened the current Duke St premises to sell cleaning supplies.
tools and various ironmongery to local trades. “In such a tough economic
When Roy passed away in 2017, they had climate, especially for
It’s said that he built the internal warehouse transformed Rothwells from a simple ‘nuts and independent local businesses,
racking in such a fashion that it could be easily bolts’ shop to an established manufacturing and it’s essential use technology to
dismantled and broken down into ammunition, engineering supplier. our advantage. We must make
should another war come to pass. every effort to keep costs low
Chris Nuttall commented: “My dad worked in whilst still servicing our
Luckily, no such war was on the horizon and the the business until the week before he passed customers in the best way
Rothwell family operated the company until its away, at the age of 87! I think he’d be very proud possible.
acquisition by Roy Nuttall in 1992. One year that we’re celebrating 70 years but not surprised
later, Roy became chairman of Rothwells as his – he was an old-school secretary and an expert “I’m very much looking
son Chris was appointed managing director. in business longevity.” forward to what the future
may hold for both Rothwells
The father and son duo went on to expand As well as careful business planning, Chris puts and the town. Rochdale
Rothwells’ product ranges over the next two the company’s long-standing success down to itself is becoming a real
decades; branching into machine tools and oils, hard work and a team that will source ‘just about Managing director Chris Nuttall (right) with the Rochdale mayor at the business hub that we can all
specialist engineering supplies, PPE, branded anything’ for their customers. Rochdale Competitive Connections event in 1999 be proud of.”