Twenty-five years ago, Pam Walker had a dream.

She wanted to set up a firm to employ herself, her mum - an experienced secretary - eventually her young daughter, and others. The dream came true.

Family-run PDQ Secretarial & Book-keeping Services was born in a rented backroom in High Street, Rainham, just five years after the Medway Business Awards were founded.

Today, it owns a three-storey building in the same street, with a shop front and offices let to small businesses.

Pam’s daughter Tanya became manager in 2009. Her mum Ena, now 91, still pops into the office.

Pam had worked in the accounts department of a local firm and decided to become a bookkeeper, studying part-time with the Kent-based International Association of Bookkeepers (IAB) and passing her exams with distinction.

She said: “I grew in confidence, and with the help of my various contacts in business, began to build up my bookkeeping clients.

A great deal of hard work and sacrifice went into building up a clientele base.

I had the valued support of my husband and my mum which kept me going through many hard times.”

She worked for clients at their own premises.

“There were many hours of candle burning at both ends, to get the book-keeping done on time.

My mum’s role was to do the typing in the office while I rushed from one bookkeeping client to another, juggling child care in between.”

The growing firm now offers a range of services including payroll, credit control, audio typing, telemarketing, mailing address and telephone answering service.

It employs four people and has taken on an apprentice.

Pam would love to be a finalist in the firm’s silver anniversary year.

“This would be the icing on the cake for the 25 years of blood, sweat and tears,” she said.

”I am proud of my family and staff for supporting me through the good and bad times and extremely grateful to all my clients who have all made my dreams come true.”

For more information, go to www.pdqsecretarial.co.uk