Offering insurance cover for the aviation company that flies the Queen and also premiership football teams to Europe is all in a day’s work for ABA Commercial Insurance.

Founded by Dalber Samrai in 2005, the Istead Rise insurer offers a 24 hour a day, seven day a week service over the entire UK to clients for shop, office, construction, restaurant and catering, buy to let, liability commercial and residential properties, commercial and manufacturing insurance. It also provides cover for a number of religious buildings.

Although the company’s headquarters is in Kent, there is an office in Birmingham and Mr Samrai wants to open a further branch in the Home Counties.

One of the strengths of this firm has been its bespoke service and word of mouth has been the mainstay of gaining more customers.

Finding the right staff skills has been a problem though, so the company offered shortlist applicants a week’s trial and this proved successful in securing the right people.

The company is one of the contenders for this year's Dartford and Gravesham Business Awards, which are now in their 10th year.

They are supported by the Messenger, and each entrant gets a free profile in our papers and on our website.

This year’s award sponsors are Dartford council, Gravesham council, Barnes Roffe, Kent Business School (University of Kent), the KM Group (Dartford Messenger and Gravesend Messenger), Lloyds Bank, Thomson Snell and Passmore, Edinburgh House, University of Greenwich and Mid Kent College.

Entries have now closed. The winners will be announced later this year.