SHE was tipped for a high-flying career in the glamorous world of fashion modelling.

But 19-year-old Hannah Mackenzie turned her back on the catwalk.

Now she’s happy to be tramping around muddy building sites wearing a high-vis jacket, hard hat and boots in her role as new business sales and marketing executive at Huddersfield-based Radcliffe Plant Hire.

And despite her tender years, she has already accumulated a wealth of experience in selling. As a youngster, she helped mum Darcey run her vintage fashion shop and manned stalls at open markets across the north.

After leaving school, she launched her own clothing business on eBay.

Before joining Radcliffe Plant Hire earlier this year, she also had spells working in a call centre – a high-pressure selling environment if ever there was one – and as a marketing executive for a firm of personal injury lawyers.

Hannah, who lives at Mirfield, grew up in East Bierley and attended Batley Grammar School.

On leaving school, she set up her eBay business selling vintage clothing. At just 16, she found herself sourcing stock, modelling items for sale and running her own blog.

"You could definitely say I come from a sales background," she says. "My mum left her career in the police to set up her own business selling vintage fashion.

"She ran a shop at Saltaire for a number of years and when she decided to close it she had lots of stock.

"She sold items online and at local markets. At the age of 11 or 12 I would go alone to help.

"I got a buzz out of it and I seemed to have a bit of a flair for working with people.

"We would go to Huddersfield open market and later to Hebden Bridge, Todmorden and Chesterfield. We went to events such as Leeds Vintage Fair and to Newark and Lincoln."

Hannah enjoyed running her eBay business, but said: "Latterly, I got a bit fed up being stuck in the house. It can be a lonely life working constantly online. I’m an outgoing person and I wanted to get out there.

"Growing up in a retail and selling environment, you can’t help but pick up the knowledge. I’ve grown up in a house full of stock. It would have been silly not to have made use of that knowledge."

Working in the call centre and for the law firm proved less appealing, says Hannah. "It was good experience because I was dealing with lots of people," she says.

"But it was quite stressful and the atmosphere was always negative.You didn’t get that nice ‘vibe’.

"I decided I wanted to work for a smaller company where I felt I would be valued and where I could make a difference – somewhere I could shine."

Working for a plant hire firm selling everything from scaffolding and tools to dumper trucks may seem an odd choice to make – but Hannah doesn’t see it that way.

She says: "I’ve always wanted to work in a male-dominated industry because from a sales point of view I think it gives me an advantage!

"I love the job. It gives me something to get my teeth into. I’ve been out driving the dumper trucks and I get my high-vis jacket on and just muck in!

"It’s the best working environment I’ve experienced because the people are friendly and there’s a real ‘family firm’ atmosphere."

Radcliffe Plant Hire, based at Queen’s Square, Leeds Road, has been in business for more than 50 years and is part of the Radcliffe Group, which traces its roots to 1802.

The business provides plant and equipment as well as storage space and vehicle repair for the construction sector, mainly serving small building companies.

The Radcliffe name is synonymous with Huddersfield.

J Radcliffe and Sons has been a family-owned firm since its formation more than 200 years ago built many of the town’s landmark buildings, including Britannia Buildings in St George’s Square, the Kirklees Council offices, Huddersfield Technical College and parts of the university.

Hannah is following in the footsteps of colleague Cath Hirst, who last year became the first female to be appointed plant hire manager in the firm’s history.

They now joke that the women are taking over!

Hannah says: "It’s a bit of a challenge for me because it’s so different, but selling is selling – and whatever the product or service, selling is about people and building relationships."

"I still like to put on my lipstick and get my nails done! I like music and going out with friends, but I also like going out to see customers and working with the team at Radcliffe’s.

Hannah, who dotes on her two Staffordshire bull terriers Dolly and Stanley, realises she’s turning a few heads in a world of builders and bacon butties.

The lads have had to make space in the office fridge for Hannah’s preferred lunch-time choice of healthy food. She jokes: "I’ve already educated them about what an avocado is!"

But she says: "If people might think I’m glamorous, they only have to wait until they hear my accent – then they realise I’m just a Yorkshire lass. Everyone is genuinely lovely and we really get on."

She recalls: "I was talent scouted for modelling at the age of 11 and later I had the chance of going on a photo shoot to Milan. I sometimes wonder whether not going on that trip was the biggest mistake of my life. But modelling isn’t glamorous, really. You seem to have to be stick-thin and you’re really just a clothes horse when all’s said and done."

Role: New business sales and marketing executive
Age: 19
Family: Single
Holidays: I’d love to go shopping in New York or laze around somewhere hot and sunny
Car: My ambition is to buy a beat-up Golf GTI and do it up
First job: Working on the market stall with my mum
Best thing about job:  The people – employees and customers
Worst thing about job: Nothing! It’s great working here
Business tip: Clients do business with YOU, not your company, so service is always second to any client relationship

Work: Plant and tool hire, vehicle services and storage for the construction industry
Site: Huddersfield
Employees:Five
Phone: 01484 420212
Email: enquiries@jradcliffe .com
Website: www.jradcliffeplant.co.uk