AN inspirational Gourock businesswoman who has worked with presidents, prime ministers and African leaders has returned to her roots.

Louise Hunter - who was once told she wasn't bright enough to go to university - worked for the Financial Times in London for 18 years before setting up her own events company Summerhouse Media.

She has travelled all over the world and rubbed shoulders with Bill Clinton, Tony Blair, David Cameron and Terry Waite and many more.

She has organised conferences and events all over the world and briefed President Clinton at a charitable event in London in 2015.

Louise said: "I remember me and him standing together before going on stage.

"I don't like getting my photographs taken with famous people because I respect their privacy but it was him who said 'let's do a photo.'

"He gave a compelling speech for 45 minutes without a single note.

"He was utterly brilliant then afterwards their was a big reception and dinner at Kensington Palace

"He walked up behind me and said 'well Louise how do you think that went'?"

"I was stunned that he remembered my name."

Louise has also met David Cameron, whom she describes as 'Mr PR man, incredible intellect, very bright and clever'.

She has organised several Festivals of Education throughout the years, meeting Sir Bob Geldof, rapper Tiny Tempah, Ruby Wax, David Baddiel and Will Young along the way.

Louise left Gourock High with four O grades and a Higher before she became a shorthand typist for a recruitment firm in Glasgow.

She got her big break when her boss asked her to go to a conference in his place.

Louise said: "I didn't feel good enough to go to the dinner with all these people but I did and it changed my life.

"I was sitting opposite the classified ad director for the FT who asked me to go to work with him for a year in London.

"I ended up staying 18 years and three years into it, I was appointed sales manager for Africa and India.

The businesswoman has had tough times too, bringing up daughter Caitlin, now 25, on her own since was four-years-old.

Louise said: "Life was hard bringing her up on my own combining starting the business.

"But I have some incredible friends and family who supported me so much and I couldn’t have achieved what I did without them."

Louise returned home last year after more than 30 years in London.

She said: "I felt it was the right time to come back and give something back into my home town.

"There's a massive sense of belonging."

She has set up the new Creative Inverclyde organisation with graphic designer Craig Black and Andrew Bowman, head of business investment at Riverside Inverclyde.

Louise says she wants to harness the artistic talent that exists in Inverclyde and develop new projects over the long term.

She said: "Creative Inverclyde is a social enterprise where creativity, arts and culture meet economic regeneration by working together to create a better place to live and work."

She says they want to utilise 'the many under-used and empty spaces in Inverclyde and work out how best to use them for events '.

Louise said: "We want to work with the council, Creative Scotland and local groups to make the community an even more exciting and vibrant place to live, work and visit as a tourist."