Success in business can have a downside. Expansion can force you to go through the upheaval of seeking new premises, an issue PLP Fire Protection faced.

After winning new contracts, moving from Sutton-at-Hone to Victoria Industrial Park, Dartford, became essential space-wise and allowed the firm to take on new staff including an additional engineer.

Director Paul Bennett explained: "When we got the keys to the new PLP Fire Protection building and undertook our own detailed survey it was noted that a simple re-decoration would not be the case - a complete refurbishment of the unit would be required to bring up to current standards.

"This included a re-wire of the electrics, a fire alarm system, IT Infrastructure, new ceilings, new lights and safety signage, however the additional time it took and cost was worth it.

"Our new building now serves as a showcase and training facility to our customers."

Established for over five years, the company installs, services and repairs fire alarms, emergency escape lighting and smoke ventilation systems. It also supplies and services fire extinguishers and dry risers.

Its broad portfolio shows it can carry out five-year electrical testing, Portable Appliance Testing (PAT), fire risk assessments and health and safety inspections, while it also offers an online Notifier fire alarm systems shop.

Training is vital in this industry and Alan Beeching, as an accredited trainer who previously delivered full line specific training to London Underground train operators, understands the importance of high standards.

As a procedures manager he was also tasked with reviewing and rewriting rules for all train- based activities.

He said: “A good standard of training together with rules and procedures assist the smooth running of a company. I want the best for both staff and the company.

“Apart from offering new services, we have recently started a project to write our own set of company rules and procedures to be published in an engineers’ handbook.

“From those rules and procedures we will identify all the necessary training needs and deliver training in-house.”

PLP Fire Protection’s strong client base includes the Debra Charity sites, London’s ExCel Centre, Corpus Christi College, Chelsea Harbour and EasyJet’s head office and hangar at Luton.

PLP is just one of several companies to enter this year’s Dartford and Gravesham Business Awards. They are supported by the Messenger and each entrant gets a free profile in our papers and online.

Entries have now closed but you can find out more at www.dgbawards.co.uk

This year’s sponsors are: Barnes Roffe; Dartford council; Gravesham council; KM Media Group; Lloyds Bank; Thomson Snell and Passmore; University of Greenwich and JonesFM.