Joanne James, director, PLP Construction

Joanne James has been around the world – but the only place she wants to live is Rochdale.

Born and bred in Rochdale she attended St Vincent’s RC Primary School; St Wilfrid’s RC Middle School and Bishop Henshaw RC School (now St Cuthbert’s RC High School).

“My first memory of Rochdale was going to St Paul’s Nursery in Norden Village when I was three,” she said.

Her older brother Laurie is now the construction director at PLP Construction while her younger brother Patrick is a physiotherapist.

Their father Philip Bradley founded PLP Construction in 1982 but Joanne went to work in London at The Economist before travelling around world, including to Australia, India and Nepal.

Married with three children (Rosie, 21, Gabby, 19, and 17-year-old Aiden), Joanne lives in Rochdale and joined PLP Construction in 2004, which now employs 40 people.

“I love the community spirit in Rochdale,” she said. “You always meet someone who you know. Rochdale is on the up. The council has brought everyone together.

“It really makes us think about using local companies. We use John Fitton of Office Supplies Now for our stationery supplies rather than Amazon and MID Communications for our mobile phones.”

Asked who she admires in Rochdale she identified an organisation rather an individual. “I really admire the work of Springhill Hospice,” she said.