A Dartford developer has revealed how he went from flipping burgers to become a successful businessman turning disused court buildings into multi-million pound assets.

Sanmi Adegoke has been put forward for an award at the Black British Business Awards (BBBAwards) this month.

The entrepreneur is currently undertaking a project to transform the town's former Magistrate's Court and prison cells into office space.

It's a task the businessman is no stranger to having identified a gap in the real estate market for bringing public buildings back into community use.

But his first foray into the business world was a touch less glamorous as Sanmi reveals he started off behind the grill at a branch of McDonald's.

It was a job the young entrepreneur from Nigeria did to support him as a student but it would ultimately go on to shape his future career in property investing.

During his time there he would quiz his employers about the structure of the business and to his surprise learnt the fast food franchise was a lot more than the burgers he was flipping and was, in fact, a real estate company.

The potential of property as an investment vehicle came to the fore again in Sanmi's next role as a security guard watching over multi-million pound assets in London's Knightsbridge.

It was here he got speaking with the owners who recommended he read "Rich Dad Poor Dad" from the New York Times best-selling author Robert Kiyosaki.

In 2014, an inspired Sanmi set up his own real estate company Rehoboth Property International.

His first such venture was at Woolwich Magistrates' Court in south east London where he took the unconventional step of transforming the derelict building into a place of worship, before undertaking a similar project at Bow County Court in east London.

Now the entrepreneur has turned his attention to Dartford, acquiring the former magistrates' court and West Hill Police Station in Highfield Road.

Work is already underway to refurbish the one-time cop shop and turn it into The Hill Hub, a co-working space with a launch date expected later this month.

Once complete it will have room for up to 120 people with a mix of large, open-plan offices as well as the opportunity to share smaller rooms with a colleague or "cellmate".

Sanmi revealed the inspiration behind his latest project was to turn "trauma into triumph".

The aim, he says, is take a place where "many people were sentenced and locked up" and transform it into a "mini Silicon Valley" where new ideas can thrive.

Sanmi said: "Brave police officers once worked here, to serve and protect the people of Dartford.

"Now, fearless entrepreneurs will use The Hill Hub to develop businesses, exchange ideas, and enrich the lives of their local community.

"The Hill Hub not only provides co-working and private office space but also a hub of information, a centre of learning and a start-up business network with creativity, sustainability and disruptive innovation at its heart.

"The fantastic team behind the project provides a network of expertise, knowledge, and support, with ideas, entrepreneurship and collaboration to form the legacy centre in Dartford."

He added: "Dartford is a key location, particularly post Covid-19 for businesses wanting to establish work spaces using the hub and spoke model for departments to work locally, yet still within reach of the city."

Rehoboth's chief executive has now been formally acknowledged for his achievements in business after being shortlisted for entrepreneur senior leader of the year at the BBBAwards.

Throughout this month the awards will be shining a light on the brightest BAME talent and celebrating the achievements of black people in British business.

The winners will announced at a ceremony on Friday, October 30, hosted by award-winning Holby City actress and former Loose Woman Chizzy Akudolu.

Business talent is judged across six industry categories, celebrating both rising stars and senior leaders.

Melanie Eusebe and Sophie Chandauka, co-founders of the Black British Business Awards said: “This year’s finalists are some of the most determined and innovative black leaders in the UK.

"These exceptional individuals should be extremely proud of their achievements, they are inspiring the next generation of black talent to challenge convention and follow in their footsteps. We wish them the very best of luck”.

Sanmi said: "I am humbled and extremely grateful, it is an absolute honour to have been named one of the 2020 finalists for the prestigious awards."

Read more: All the latest news from Dartford