The best firms, employees, shops and workers in Dartford will be celebrated at an awards evening.

The final of the Dartford Business Awards, organised by Dartford council, takes place at Bluewater tonight (Thursday).

Organisers say with so many trading locally in the town, it is not surprising that once again there has been a large number of entries.

The awards are designed to cater for every size of business, from the smallest to the largest in the borough.

As well as some exceptional businesses, there is also plenty of exceptional employees, so the judges asked local firms to nominate an individual team member who shows outstanding talent every time they come to work for the Employee of the Year award.

This year’s nominees include Gavin Clegg at G&G Fencing & Landscaping Supplies, Catriona Nicholson at Resource on Demand Limited, Claire Kirrage at Eden Counselling and Training Limited, Stephen Hirsch from We Are Beams and Orchard Garage employee Alex King.

The Best Use of Online Award, sponsored by The Creation Lab, recognises companies which know how to innovate and get the best out of online selling, social media marketing and beyond.

This year’s nominees include G&G Fencing & Landscaping Supplies, Nice Price, The XP Club, Huski Home, Downton and Ali Associates, The Hug Group Limited, Hartbeeps North Kent, Dartford Living, Bresser Photography & Digital Media.

The Dartford Living Customers’ Choice Award is sponsored by Dartford Living

The public was asked to nominate their favourite local businesses which deliver an exemplary service every time.

This year’s nominees include OnPointe Pilates, Hollywood Performing Arts, Hardy Drainage, Two Trees Tea Room, Fleetdown Open House, Wisdom Estates Dartford, Efes Dartford, Downton and Ali Associates, The Kut Hut Hairdressers and Central Park Athletics.

For Shop of the Year, sponsored by Bluewater, judges were looking for businesses providing the best shopping experience in Dartford.

Entrants for 2019 include; Wisdom Estates, Bradleys Jewellers, Nice Price, Deans Gentlemens Salon, Harden Holidays, H&M Quality Foods, Cocoba Limited, Loccitane and Fox Estate Agents.

The Best Owner Managed Business awards is sponsored by Thomson Snell & Passmore.

This award highlights those who work tirelessly to make their very own business a success. This year’s entrants include Resource On Demand Limited.

The Bluewater Guest Experience Award is sponsored by the shopping centre. This new award is for those who go the extra mile when it comes to customer service and provide a great experience in store, and the award organisers are delighted to have received some fantastic entries from some of Bluewater’s finest retailers.

This year’s entrants include Calzedonia and Intimissimi Stores, Sweaty Betty, Cocoba Limited, Ability Plus, The LEGO Store, Aspinal of London, Bespoke And Tailoring, Molton Brown, Victoria’s Secret and Too Faced.

The Young Person of the Year award is sponsored by North Kent College. Now open to every young apprentice in the borough, the award this year features a number of the best apprentices, who have shown great commitment, endeavour and potential.

The nominees include Hollie Evans of Eden Counselling and Training Limited, Charlie Randell at The Hug Group Limited, Jamie Spencer from BDP International, Michael Barnett of PLP Fire, Balraj Singh and Leo Dole who both work for Evans Turner, Jordan Parkinson at Blue Rocket Accounting and Charlie Fairway at Orchard Garage Ltd.

The Happy at Work award – sponsored by Fairfield Leisure and Barclays, recognises those firms who really value the happiness and wellbeing of their employees, and make an effort to keep them motivated and successful.

Entrants for the Happy at Work Award include G&G Fencing & Landscaping Supplies; Resource on Demand Limited; The Kut Hut Hairdressers; Wisdom Estates; DoubleTree by Hilton Dartford Bridge; Purewhite Creative; Huski Home; Green Inc Group LTD; We Are Beams and Orchard Garage Ltd.

The commitment to Skills Award is sponsored by Leigh Academies Trust and NatWest. Awards bosses were looking for businesses and organisations with a strong commitment towards training and development.

This year’s entrants include: Property King Estate Agents; Purewhite Creative; Deans Gentlemen’s Salon; Downton and Ali Associates; The Knights Academy of Dance; Jigsaw Education; The Whitecode Group; Orchard Garage Ltd and PBS Restaurants Ltd T/A McDonald’s Dartford.

The Good for the Community Award is for businesses which consistently give something back to the community. Whether it’s an inspirational member of staff who makes a difference to their neighbourhood, or the whole team rolling up their sleeves to help with littler picking or organising a special event for elderly or vulnerable people.

Bosses were looking for the companies with projects or initiatives which do good and offer support to the community all year round.

Entrants include: Fleetdown Open House; The Meeting Place SAH (The Meeting Place & Upper Rooms CIC); Resource on Demand Limited; DoubleTree by Hilton Dartford Bridge; Eden Counselling and Training Limited; Adams & Moore; Downton and Ali Associates; Bluebird Care Gravesham and Dartford; Jigsaw Education; Dartford Living; Orchard Garage Ltd; PBS Restaurants Ltd T/A McDonald’s Dartford.

The Dartford Business Awards are sponsored by Barclays, Bluewater, Dartford Borough Council , Dartford Living, Fairfield, Leigh Academies Trust, NatWest, North Kent College, Oxford Innovation, The Creation Lab, The Learning Shop, The Nucleus and Thomson Snell & Passmore.