From starting off by cutting family lawns for pocket money 10 years ago, Lee Barge has expanded his commercial landscape management company to cover four southern counties serving a top brand client base.

Barge Landscape Management, at The Nucleus, Dartford, offers a range of services such as ground maintenance for schools, parks and highways. It also covers expertise in tree surgery, play equipment and will even tackle the dreaded Japanese knotweed.

Sustaining standards to an extremely high level, the firm gained the Occupational Health and Safety Standard BSI ISO 18001 certification and although it has moved into gaining large contracts, it still enjoys the loyalty and gives its commitment to those who supported the firm in the early days.

Owner Lee Barge said: “I really do feel that as a result of our dedication and protecting our reputation, it means we do not just accept work whether it is ad hoc or contract just because it is there. We only commit to work that will receive our best service.

“This being a company that supplies a quality honest service is what makes us different.

“Our ethos has been possible by being open minded to those we employ. It is based not purely on their existing qualifications, but what we feel they can achieve by working for us.

“This means we now have a nice range of ages and skills working within the company as well as a few school leavers who have achieved full qualification through apprenticeships served with us.”

Barge Landscape Management is one of the entrants in the Dartford and Gravesham Business Awards.

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 and the University of Greenwich.

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