Louise Scott, H Bell & Son

Louise Scott is the fourth generation of her family to work at building contractor H Bell & Son and is employed as the account manager and company secretary.

The company was established in 1912 and Louise is proud to be born and bred in Rochdale.

She said: “One of my earliest memories is planting a tree with my father Harry Bell at the Rochdale Cenotaph in the town centre. I’m not sure what is was marking but I was about seven at the time and my Dad was a member of Rochdale Round Table.”

After leaving Oulder Hill Senior School, Louise planned to attend Blackpool Catering College but decided to get a job at NatWest, in Rochdale, where she worked for 12 years.

She said: “I didn’t want to let my passion for cooking go so I completed several courses in cooking and wine tasting, achieving a diploma in cooking, entering Masterchef and lecturing in vegetarian cookery at Hopwood Hall College in an evening.

“I finally deciding to leave the bank and take a year out to join the family business to prepare the company for my Dad’s retirement.

“My Dad was disappointed his weekly cash wage packet ceased and an automated bank system was introduced along with several other office systems.  That one year has continued to now 21 years and my Dad only retired for a day and came back to the business for a further 10 years and still drops in!”

Louise lives in Rochdale and loves the community spirit in the borough. “There have been so many events across the town which H Bell & Son have been involved with, setting up the longest bar in Rochdale on the town hall car park, abseiling down the clock tower, dragon boat races on Hollingworth Lake and numerous Springhill Hospice events,” she said.

“One of the biggest improvements in Rochdale has been the town centre improvements, with the bus station, improved transport links, trams, and seeing the transformation and investment of our heritage buildings.

“I can’t wait to see the results of the works to our amazing Grade 1 listed Town Hall, which is a building our company have worked on for over 70 years.  It truly is a beautiful gem to be proud of.”
Asked which business she particularly admires, Louise said couldn’t single out one.

“We have so many great local businesses who provide amazing services to us,” she said. “A few examples are Abbey Architectural Ironmongery; Rothwells, W J Lewis (Builders Merchants); Parr Rochdale; Boro Heating, City Plumbing Supplies; Myson Pages; Office Supplies Now; PDS; ER Williams (Painting Contractors); MID Communications; and Ken Taylor Supplies.”