Grandma's ring takes on a new life

This bespoke craftsman started up in a parade of shops in Singlewell three years ago creating clients' dream pieces as he describes them. Now expanded into a Gravesend town centre shop, Chris Parry guarantees every item for sale is handcrafted, be it a ring, cuff links, pendant or piece of silverware.

Mr Parry's commission success stretches across a large international market and last year 500 crafted items were sent as far afield as Hawaii, Fiji, China, Argentina, Russia and America.

He said:" I am different form the high street chains in that I offer a re-modelling service. I can take an old piece of jewellery and re-work it to create a new one. I get a lot of inherited pieces brought to me to be re-fashioned. You can\'t beat the sentiment that Grandma's old ring was turned into your ring.

"I also specialise in making jewellery with your fingerprint etched in. I have developed a secret method where I take your print and create a ring, cuff links or pendant. These have been very popular, especially with those that might have recently lost a loved one."

Chris Parry has embraced the internet making the most of Flickr, blogging and Twitter as well as having a personal website.

He said: "It is amazing what someone can find via a Google search. An order came after a blog entry I did two years ago. I then placed an instructable on www.instructables.com which received about 100,000 views leading to people contacting me directly to enquire about commissions. There's a good market out there if you know how to use it."

A clever idea

New social housing build has been put on hold until the economy picks up and this isn't good news for the two million registered on housing waiting lists. The alternative is the private sector, but landlords show reluctance to renting housing benefits claimants. Fears of inability to pay, disregard for the property all end up perpetuating a chronic housing shortage.

Enter Fast Trak Solutions Ltd, a Dartford firm situated at Admirals Park, the only company in the UK with a unique formula to relieve the problem.

Started 18 months ago by Damon Thomas, Fast Trak offers a scheme whereby private landlords are offered a comprehensive rent guarantee, negate the need for the tenant to pay advance payments, provide the landlord insurance against tenant damage, operate a tailored referencing process and work with a national network of professional letting agents.

It's been solid hard graft but the rewards are great. The company, now with 16 employees, has full FSA approval, has secured underwriting for the new proposition, secured investment, channelled the private sector's opinion of social tenants and cut through political red tape with local authorities to give people a decent roof over their heads.

Mr Thomas said: "The business proposition, insurance products and service provided is totally unique and whilst a commercial venture, does assist some of the UK's lowest income households by finding them housing and reducing their costs.

"It is rare that a new business should offer a totally unique proposition and the fact that it does so, whilst addressing a nationwide social issue in a manner that saves government money and generates revenue for all the private sector has got to be good for everyone."

One stop party shop

Director Michael Savell started the business in 1998 and reckons he's now Kent's number one party wear hot spot and has some top clients after supplying the balloon theme for Jools Holland's wedding.
It's a highly competitive industry and the past year with the recession has been especially tough, but Mr Savell met it head on and embraced the internet for online selling.

He said:" There are a number of retailers in our area that stock a small part of the range of products that we offer, but no one carries our range anywhere near the number of products sold here.. April sees the launch of our online store

"In these difficult times we chose to tighten our belts and maintain growth. We have kept our prices as low as possible, whilst introducing new lines and new designs to enhance our offer."

Staff at P4Parties Limited is experienced and able to pull everything together for whatever party theme is required no matter how challenging and the firm also takes an interest in the local community.

Mr Savell added:" We have published price lists for our balloon decorating products and will be as quick to advise against overspending, as not having enough.

"We have been leading participants in the high street festival and instrumental in setting up meetings between the council and retailers to try and find ways to generate more footfall."

Diamond drilling aids the partially sighted

Word of mouth recommendation and a great team are what Patrick Southin director of Britannia Cutting Services Ltd puts down to his firm's success, for despite an industry downturn they've grown.

From day one three years ago, the management of this concrete cutting sub contractor specialist firm realised that staff training would pay dividends in the long run and invested heavily in all aspects of health and safety. This in turn has promoted a good working relationship with the employees and paid off with some of the more unusual contracts they've won.

A recent job was carried out on St Paul's Cathedral for the Dean and Chapter, which involved diamond drilling thousands of holes all around St Pauls. Every step needed to have pins inserted for the partially sighted.

Britannia Cutting Services Ltd offers a considerable range of expertise in cutting and breaking of concrete, which includes diamond drilling, diamond track sawing, diamond floor sawing, diamond wire sawing, diamond ring sawing, robotic breaking and rotary drilling.

The staff skills were demonstrated early on when the firm was only 18 months old.
Mr Southin said:" W entered a competition relating to our specialist field. All the major players in our industry entered their best men, which included companies from not only England, but also Wales and Scotland

"The winners and runners up would be going to Austria for the European finals. So there we are, brand new and all these well established companies from all over the country are there and we actually came in second position. Everyone congratulated us and off we went to Europe where we came eighth out of 22 countries."

Firm takes the load

If you've ever wondered what company has provided the skills to manage the huge low loader on your road, or that towering crane, then it could well be Dartford based heavy lifting and transportation company WB Services UK Ltd.

This family run company was started up in 2002 with one aim to provide a quality, effective service to the construction industry and has had an exceptional growth [period with a loyal staff force willing to work with management to ensure customers receive the advice and care needed.

The company can manage massive loads with up to 44te hauling capacity complete
with 40' flats, semi low loaders, extendable trailers and low loaders. Drivers, second men and escorts can all be provided as can permits from the local police forces to move the cargo.

Expansion has taken place over a number of areas including a store which will soon become online for lifting tackle for sale or hire. The company is a preferred supplier to many of the big construction names such as Balfour Beatty and is proud of its client care.

There is also a training centre providing various CITB/CPCS training at the Dartford
depot.. Health and safety is paramount and a policy of safety before profit has been adopted in all areas.

A family affair

A real family affair would best describe County Magazine Publications Ltd which since its inception in 1996 has enjoyed an outstanding success. The company currently hand delivers 51,000 glossy copies of The County Magazine to affluent readerships across Bromley and parts of Kent many rural.

Local features play an integral part of the editorial and topics include anything from interiors and exteriors, food and drink to fashion, health and beauty and legal matters.

Founded by Gillie and Michael Bower whose daughter also works as office manager, the company which is based at Farningham High Street, has, along with most UK publications, had to tighten its belt with the drop in advertising revenue in the past year. On the positive side most of the magazine's advertisers are very loyal to the publication having stayed since its first issue.

Run by four full and four part time staff who receive ongoing inhouse training, the company favours an eco approach to publishing.

Mrs Bower said:" We use pool cars and the product is completely recyclable. We run the business from two small offices and five of our staff are home-based. All our printer cartridges and mobile phones are sent to appropriate charitable recycling centres."

The company publishes a regular ‘Charity of the Month' newsletter and is currently sponsoring a ‘Great Wall of China run' for the British Heart Foundation.

Customer satisfaction a priority

According to Susan Hearn, Jacqueline's House of Brides director, an increasing number of people are marrying in the unseasonal months from January to March and for bridal shops this can mean a better all the year trade.
Brides are also choosing their outfits nearer to the wedding date and a shorter lead in time when ordering a dress has to be well organised.

Situated in Highfield Road, Dartford, Jacqueline's House of Brides in enjoying its twentieth anniversary this year and over the period has adapted to customers' changing lifestyles. It's not unusual for them to open late so commuters can arrange an out of hours consultation.

The firm is also keen on staff training. Susan Hearn said:" We only train staff in house and this can last for up to a year due to the complexity of this business.

"We offer work experience placements to schools in the Bexley and Dartford areas and were awarded a Certificate of Excellence in 2007/08 by Kent Works for work experience to local students.

"We donate all our finished children's bridesmaid's dresses to our local playschool to let them dress up. "

Spices to delight the palate

Shahidur's business experience kicked off when he was only 20 and he finds a lot of pleasure serving his customers with a wide menu choice. Staff training in food hygiene is also top of his list. The menu is a mixture of Bangladesh with its spices with added herbs and Indian mainly herbs with added spices.

It may be surprising to learn that there is a shortage of skilled Indian chefs, but the restaurant has had to work hard to find top class people who knew the trade and able to create exciting new dishes. It's worked out well though and celebrities can occasionally be seen there.

Topless waiters

‘Your dream is our reality' is the appropriate mission statement of previous finalist of these awards, Dartford based Mobile Bar Hire Ltd.

Since starting up in 2006 the company has enjoyed a lot of success and copes with events from 10 to 10,000 people providing hospitality packages for the events industry.

Managed by Ragbhir Sandhu, the company has not been affected too much by the recession and bookings have held up to their usual number. At times however staff have top be prepared for anything with customers making unusual requests and at one event they had to be topless at a fiftieth birthday party.

Challenges abound and the mobile bar was also double booked for a wedding when staff turned up to find a competitor also setting up. One very prestigious event was being booked for a major awards ceremony in London last year with 1000 people attending and a lot of famous faces.

The Mobile Bar Hire Ltd is always at the forefront at local charity events such as Children in Need and feels part of the local community. Being green conscious it recycles all its glasses and staff are given the very best training by the largest drinks company in the world, Diageo.

Perfect Fit

The largest uniform supplier in the area covering 20 schools including Gads Hill, St. Josephs, Bronte, Cobham and Falkham., The Sewing Shop run by Janet Waite skilfully nips and tucks any item to make it fit and been doing this successfully since 1995. The firm also supplies a number of local companies with corporate uniforms.

Janet Waite is also a skilful embroiderer and with five staff, can make any badges to suit a design.

She said: ""We have built up a very good reputation with business coming mainly by word of mouth We get to know local families well seeing children through their school years up to leaving. We also support schools by donating swing machines, helping out at raffles and some PE kits.

The company also provides a range of other services including screen printing, fancy dress for school discos and uniform for cubs, scouts, brownies and guides.

Teacher recruitment

For an education recruitment agency to receive an 100 per cent pass rate for a Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) quality mark is almost unheard of, but Classic Education did just that and is very proud of its achievement.

Founded in March 2005 by recruitment specialists Sue Flasher and Mandy Day, Classic Education deals with the selection and supply of teachers for daily, long term or permanent posts in schools throughout Kent and South East London. The company is also a corporate member of the Recruitment and Employment Federation.

The recession has had its knock on effect in education with teachers opting for staying on instead of early retirement, or moving on and schools making more use of the cheaper supply of higher level teaching assistants. Then there is the schools legislative minefield with teachers having to be exhaustively vetted before entering a school and Classic Education is an expert in these procedures.

The two directors have also linked up with the University of Greenwich's Medway campus where under and post graduates attending teaching courses can receive advice on how Classic Education can help further their future careers.

There are lighter moments and some of the teachers passing through the agency's hands have moonlighted by acting in a TV soap, there have been award winning journalists and writers, a make up artist who worked on the Harry Potter film set, a Crofts champion dog breeder and a professional footballer.

School testimonials referring to the company as being reliable and a great service have poured into Classic Education's Gravesend offices, proof that all the sweat and tears of getting the business off the ground has been worth it.

A fresh approach to farming

There's a green oasis of fresh produce right in the middle of Southfleet where sixth generation family members John and Mark Harris are managing their 500-acre Broadditch Farm.

One of last year's awards finalists, the brothers have been educating youngsters in the country ways as they see them as tomorrow's customers, Schools are encouraged to visit because John and Mark don't want children thinking that potatoes are grown in plastic bags in the supermarket. The youngsters are taken to the fields where they dirty their hands digging their own potatoes and then learn how to cook them.

The farm shop fill a gap in the area which is low on fresh greengrocers and as much from the farm's own vegetable crops which come straight from the fields without added irrigation and water is stocked. This means the flavour is exceptional.

Farming too has been affected by the recession and combined with a dry summer and low wheat yields and prices, it's been a case of all hands to the pumps keeping everything going.

In 2001 the farm joined the countryside stewardship scheme which encourages farmers to create and preserve natural habitats. They have laid hedges, planted new ones and created 50 acres of grass leys, numerous grass margins and beetle banks.

Halloween is a big fun time at Broadditch with the field of fun event and pumpkin creative workshops and there are treasure and bunny hunts at other times of the year..

Utilising solar energy

The sun creates around 35,000 times the amount of energy used by all the earth's inhabitants and its rays penetrate even on cloudy days. Carbon Energy Solutions helps to utilise this into effective heating.

Educating people in the use of solar energy and showing them how to change the way they use renewable heating and hot water sourcing is the key to reducing the carbon footprint problem

Advisor Gary Mayatt said: "With the introduction of the feed-in tarrif (fit), brought in to bring renewable energy into the mainstream, it has changed the entire industry into one of the fastest growing sectors with the introduction of up to an eight to 12 per cent return on people's investments..

"We have tackled this by joining various accreditation industries such as Gas Safe, Niceic, Constructionline, Real and Safe Contractor for our customers' peace of mind."

A finalist in these awards in 2008, the company spends a lot of time going out to give talks on the whole energy subject to schools, colleges and to the public.

The Priory Hill firm employs five people and has been in business for three years and now sports a large showroom. Staff training in always ongoing and the company is currently supporting an apprentice electrician

Mr Myatt concluded:" We have recently taken on a very exciting project at the Whitewater Canoe Centre in Broxbourne, which will be hosting Olympic events.

"We have previously worked and continue to work with various housing associations and one of our Apollo Group projects at Blythe and Canroberts Street, is a finalist at the 2010 London Evening Standard new homes awards for the best family eco house."

Affordable housing specialists

Using a private firm of mortgage and financial advisors can often be the best bet in securing the most affordable and sensible product such as a mortgage or insurance.

The recession has had an interesting effect and director Ian Clark said:" Tightened lending criteria resulting in lenders being unwilling to lend. and the fear of redundancy, has resulted in fewer clients moving house and a general lack of confidence in the money market.

"With house prices having fallen, many clients are no longer able to renegotiate lending terms at the end of deals. Those that have equity are finding that the best rates and products are reserved for borrowers with a 40 to 50 per cent equity ratio."

The company has a different slant to the general high street advisory service by specialising in affordable housing and the directors sit on the panel of two local housing associations. At the last review of the national network of Independent Financial Advisors, consisting of over 1,000 companies Clark Marshall Associates was found to be the sixth biggest producer of mortgage business and that includes national companies such as Spicer Hart Estate Agents and Hurst Independent part of Barratt New Homes.

Due to the nature of the business staff are constantly required to sit examinations in order to stay authorised.

Mr Clark added:" Our involvement with the government backed mortgage rescue scheme means that we are involved in a high percentage of cases that are considered for the scheme in the Kent, Essex, Sussex and South London area."

Training consultancy with a difference

Quay Assessment Training Limited (Quay) is a privately owned training company specialising in delivering publicly funded training and has become a big achiever. The client base has grown to over 100 companies ranging from large local authorities and charities requiring large training programmers, through to small micro businesses that require just one person to be trained.

Started in 1999 and based at Hawley Road, Dartford, the company now provides a one day bespoke training consultancy and NVQ's to over 40 organisations. The specialist team offers qualifications in HSC awards in care levels 2-4 in both adults and children, RMA level 4, customer services, business and administration, management 2-5, community transport, information advice and guidance, health and safety, skills for life qualifications and assessor awards the A1/A2 and V1.

With 16 employees, Quay actively encourages people with disabilities to apply for vacancies and wherever possible ensures that any employee who becomes disabled can continue in employment.

At interview Quay provides candidates with details of raising and dealing with any complaints about discrimination and harassment through the operation of the firm's grievance procedure and making acts of discrimination a disciplinary offence.

The company also has a major project to work with ex drug and alcohol users to get them a volunteer placement in that work area and whilst they are doing this they gain their NVQ L3 in HSC. Over 210 of the hardest to reach learners have achieved an NVQ.

By including staff in aspects and having a company ethos that develops and encourages staff input and offers good rates of pay and holidays, there is a good team atmosphere at Quay.

Gamble that paid off

There are many ways a business can access start up funding, but loan sharks must be the most risky and it was the route Nicky Pearson took in 1993 and luckily paid off handsomely.

A qualified beauty therapist, Nicky realised that people were juggling their domestic and work lives so much they needed help on the beauty front where salon products were often outside beyond the financial reach of many. She was also aware that today there is also a premium on youthful looks, for both men and women. So she set about making accessible beauty treatments purchased through retailers which could be used in the home.

The Beauty Works mission is to make tackling even difficult problems like acne and skin blemishes, or reducing the signs of ageing, accessible, affordable, non-invasive
and safe. These products are sophisticated in their design and performance and results are not merely aesthetic but also achieve genuine health benefits. The company also exports all over Europe.

On offer is a very wide range of electrical and non electrical beauty, health and fitness equipment and the company can also provide a range of hair care and beauty products which can be exclusive to any retailer.

One of the Dartford company's strengths is its ability to buy from a wide-ranging number of factories, identifying new innovative products with audit trails that can be traced back to original ethical manufacturers.

The result has been an impressive portfolio of customers such as Tesco, ASDA, Sainsbury, M & S, Aldi, New Look and Miss Selfridge. The company has bounced back from the demise of its former customer Woolworth and has seen growth throughout the recession and is looking forward to relaunching one its miniaturised professional equipment products.

A relaxing experience

After nine years in business and with an experienced staff and growing client list, True Hair & Beauty based in Gravesend's Heritage Quarter took a huge gamble just as the economic climate crashed and chose to expand.

Mr Hales said:" We occupied a corner position and the shop unit adjacent to the salon became available. It was a huge decision to expand when everything in the economy was failing. We realised it would be a missed opportunity not to take the shop unit as we needed to grow, so we chose to expand and doubled salon size

"In short we have achieved our goal, given ourselves the best of opportunities to grow over the coming years, have a beautiful salon where the staff are very proud to stay and secured work for our training staff who can now work with us after their apprenticeship is complete. All of this took place during a difficult trading year and we are attracting new clients every week"

Keeping ahead of the competition means offering the customer a relaxing experience. Mr Hales maintains it's important to take people away from their busy world. The salon music is low level, there are good refreshments and service standards are maintained by staff and monitored with strict written procedures.

Technical ability is high with training programs from the major manufacturers and modern apprenticeship training is overseen by an external company. True Hair & Beauty also works closely with local schools and colleges in the area whenever it can.

Mr Hales added: "Staff retention is very high which ensures the client experience is also maintained. Happy staff is profitable staff. ".

Bucking the trend

Owned by Keith and Anne Wisdom since 1994 and based at West Hill, the company is an the unsung hero ensuring the heating and electrics are right in new buildings, that the air conditioning works in multi story flats, that the water feeds each floor at an even pressure and that all the calculations guarantee you have a nice home or office. All work arrives by personal recommendation and the company has a blue chip client list

Staff training is at the top of the firm's agenda and not only does it put office staff through courses at the firm's expense, they have financed university degree courses. Good engineers are scarce and Keith and Anne take in work experience pupils each year. In the past 15 years they have put 16 young engineers through university

Anne is also convinced she gets good staff from the job centre and usually takes on people who have been out of work for some time, trained them and found them to be great workers. Age too is not a barrier with this firm and they value the benefit of taking on mature people. Today the company has 38 personnel working for them.

Office procedures are slick. Faxes are colour coded according to each month so date references can be found quickly. The email system is through one person who filters out only the necessary correspondence for the field engineers thus freeing them up.

"Our staff are our tools and we look after them," say Keith and Anne.

Wide variety of services

Established over 15 years, the company, led by managing director Andrew Miller has adjusted itself to a highly competitive market moving agricultural and industrial products between the UK and Europe.

A wide variety of services are offered including large capacity tippers, belt bulkers, moving floors and climate controlled vehicles which make up the fleet. Customer service includes hygiene certificates, timed collection and delivery and the handling of all necessary paperwork.

Adjusting to meet changing export demands from the UK has meant bringing in new equipment, adapting trucks and not only travelling more frequently to some EU countries, but within them. Goods to Germany can be delivered overnight from the UK and from there on to other EU countries.

Mr Miller said:" We are lucky to have a committed and positive staff who have an understanding of our loyal customers needs and will go the extra mile for the company. This has helped us ride out the recession successfully."

Firm is TV star

Northfleet coloured render and insulation company Heathfield Specialist Finishes & Coatings Ltd has faced it all in its five years and come out the other side. This is probably due to the fact it is the only company in its field specialising in the modern methods of construction like ICF (polystyrene houses) Sips Houses (structural insulated panels) thin bed joint systems and various environmental friendly products.

Insulating solid wall houses making them more energy efficient is also a big part of the business that covers London and the south east and south coast of England as well as Cheshire and West Yorkshire and parts of the Home Counties. Some jobs have been high profile such as Windsor Castle and Lords cricket ground. The company has also appeared on several television shows including the Channel 4 programme Grand Designs.

Director Des Locke says:" We have just received an important award by our trade federation for doing the best external render project and for our hard working small company this is a great honour."

Giving women a big chance

Veronica Akinyemi is ambitious, not just for herself, but for women trying to break into mainly male dominated job posts.

Dartford-based Smart Opportunities for Women (SOFW) - The Brunz Ltd, was set up 18 months ago to connect highly skilled women with employers and organisations. The issue of women being denied some top jobs has been a heated issue for a few years now and Mrs Akinyemi decided to do something about it.

She said:" Newly married in 2007, a new house bought in 2008, the state of the economy and now with a young family I was faced resented me with three choices, to postpone the business start-date, to give up, or to start the business. I am glad I chose the latter as the first two options would have caused me a life of regret and SOW would not have been born.

"According to the Equalities Human Rights Commission, Britain is still failing to get smart women into key positions and sectors and losing out on what they could contribute. The credit crunch has made the case for equality and gender balance in the workplace much stronger. As an advocate of workplace diversity, I believe that corporate Britain will be reshaped by bringing a healthier gender balance into all echelons and sectors of the workforce.

"We are now capitalising on general statistics and the figures in the 2009 Female FTSE report that show that emerging economies like India are racing ahead with more women at executive level and are introducing SMART workshops, conferences and seminars this year to support the professional development of women and equip organisations to achieve specific diversity solutions."

The company is currently making an impact on the recruitment market and now has some well known brands as customers and is about to launch an online job service on its website, www.smartopportunitiesforwomen.co.uk as well as holding seminars and training courses.

Immigration legal help

Set out originally to give owner Prince Adeola a reasonable standard of living and have time for his family, the company has moved on a lot and business is mainly generated by recommendation. The company succeeded with no initial help in the form of loans, fighting hard in the recession to make a name for itself.

With a staff of five, the company is heavily involved with the ethnic community educating young and disadvantaged people and even offering climate change advice and promoting human rights.

How to engineer success

Every utility in our daily lives has an engineer behind its manufacture and A R Engineering Ltd of Wilmington works on the premise that nothing is impossible, it's just waiting to be engineered.

With this in mind the company which provides a range of machining and manufacturing services, including: conventional and CNC milling, turning and grinding metals will attempt any project that comes along because it's challenging.

Recently the family run engineering company produced things as diverse as parts for the local butcher's mincing machine, speaker brackets for Kensington Town Hall, tooling for machines that make tin cans and equipment for local jewellery makers.

Operations director Claire Cooper, herself an engineer, says the company has also worked closely with inventors helping to prototype products such as a standing aid for the elderly. She says much of their production work has an exciting end use, applications for example in the aerospace and automotive industry including Dunlop Aviation, Rolls Royce and the army.

She said: "A project of local recognition that we have worked on is components for the coin collection and counting devices at the Dartford Crossing toll booths.

The recession hit the engineering industry hard and on top of a general malaise. Claire Cooper said it forced the staff to take a long hard look at themselves to see what they should do to become more competitive and marketing came top, also the realisation that people like a brochure and not always the internet in the engineering industry.

Over the years Bybow Farm has proved an exciting place to reside, although not necessarily for the better. Being quiet leant itself to privacy for a group of people printing money and engaging in drug activities. When one of the AR Engineering directors came to work one day he was met by armed police surrounding the building, but the bust was soon over and it was business as usual again.

Top customer service

Listening to what the customers wants has put Meopham Tandoori Ltd ahead of its competitors.

Established for over 25 years, this balti specialist restaurant and takeaway situated at The Parade in Meopham, has built up a good clientele and the staff are particularly knowledgeable about Bangladeshi food.

Owner Jahir Ali says the restaurant wasn't particularly affected by the downturn, probably on account of its loyal customers and unique menu. One particular dish which is the chef's special, embraces an adventurous chicken, lamb and prawns cooked with freshly ground spices and garnished with egg

Another unusual dish is The Meopham Tandoori special chicken which has Tia Maria, fresh cream and mild spices, decorated with lettuce, cucumber and tomatoes

Mr Ali says living in Meopham is very enjoyable and whilst he would love to expand the premises to accommodate more customers feels it would probably not fit in with the local planning regulations, so is content for his restaurant to stay as it is..

Partners work

Started 16 years ago, MSDC is a mother and son partnership run by J\ake and Margaret Shepherd and based in Gravesend's High Street. Clients come from the UK, Ireland, Germany and Egypt. With its core business being corporate and heavily property based, MSDC had to revalue its client books with the recession.

Partnering up with complimentary industries has been the answer and the firm has also made some film commercials. Remembering the tough beginning in their own early days, the company is keen to help others in a similar position and offers a cost effective start up package.

Mr Shepherd said:" We pride ourselves on our ability to understand our clients and get under their skin to solve their issues in an unexpected way.

"Our clients are pleased and surprised by the work we present and then work with us to make our ideas reality and to really make them work. This understanding and creativity, working directly with our clients is what make us unique."

Giving back self esteem

Set up in 2007, founder Zanya Davis's motto is: 'we believe that attitude defines our thoughts, and our thoughts define our character. We are indeed what we think.'

The Gravesend company specialises in drama and differs from other theatre companies in that it does not come with set ideas and force the young performers to comply. Instead classes are participant-led and young people are encouraged to devise a workshop surrounding issues in their real lives.

Miss Davis said:" Pals Theatre has a very different offer. The objectives are community driven.

"We believe that by working with young people to improve confidence and self esteem we are indeed helping the neighbourhood. Our experiences show us that it is therefore important to shape the attitude of the young if they are to mature into confident and productive adults."

It is a competitive industry and when the recession hit, the company was concerned about launching the new performing arts school, Pals Academy last year. However the support received locally has helped it fight through the worst and the theatre is now building up a good name.

Miss Davis added:" This type of work is often disregarded, but we at Pals believe whether you are a teacher in a school or specialist facilitators such as ourselves people should be truly thankful. We are working with tomorrow's generation to engage them with and ensure that they grow up to be great men and women of our society."

Unemployed helped

The Swanscombe based firm has helped the unemployed retrain to a qualification and given work opportunities. SET has also worked with Thames Gateway Urban project, Shawtrust and U Turn.

Mrs McCluskey said:" Training is changing. We shall see the end of NVQ training this December across all sectors. SET has prepared for this eventuality by re training its own delivery team across Kent.

"We have diversified and taken on different training programmes such as childcare, supporting teaching and learning, numeracy and literacy, safeguarding which is child protection, fork lift truck, CSCS certificate and door security; all of which are accredited."

SET is hot on its own staff training seeing it as key to the business and not only supports, but also funds many of its team members through the courses.

There are a couple of notable student successes and Mrs McCluskey said:" One of our unemployed students came third in the country for her coursework on childcare receiving an award from the BBC's Michaela Strachan at the London Hilton. We were all immensely proud of what she had achieved.

"Another of our unemployed and dyslexic students went on to achieve second place at the Learning Skills Council Awards across the south east in 2008."