For the past 20 years, distance has never been a barrier to maintaining a local touch for ARC Office Systems when dealing with customers.

Based at Bowes Industrial Estate, Meopham, director Andrew Candler started trading with very little cash in the bank, servicing all types of office equipment from copiers to printers, typewriters to shredders.

He said: “Obviously when machines wore out clients would turn to me for recommendations on new equipment, so naturally I progressed to selling products.

“As I sold more I needed more technicians to service the equipment. I then became a Konica Minolta dealer in 1999 and now lease, rent, sell and service their award-winning products.

“Our technicians regularly attend Konica Minolta training courses and we have been given five-star accreditation by the manufacturers for our product knowledge and high levels of support. All the toner cartridges used in our machines are recycled. ”

Now offering the sale and service of multifunctional printers for printing, copying and scanning, the firm’s customer base is UK wide in Liverpool, Leeds, Devon and Hull, with machines even located on container ships as well as home users and City investment banks.

In addition to taking on local staff, ARC Office Systems supports activities in the community and sponsors both Ebbsfleet and Dartford Football clubs and the Cyclopark.

In April this year the company sponsored an ellenor hospice charity coffee morning.

The company has entered The Dartford and Gravesham Business Awards, which 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.

Time is running out to get your entry in - the closing date is Friday, August 7.

Visit www.dgbawards.co.uk