With a name like Blue Rocket Accounting, the trading label for Purple Patch UK Ltd, you would expect to find a firm with a difference.

Breaking the mould of traditional accountants, this firm of chartered tax advisers markets itself on space-themed branding.

Its services are called Blast Off, Maintain Orbit, Expand Orbit and Reach for the Stars and even the job titles are spaced themed like Ground Control (director) and Flight Dynamics Officer (client manager).

Although incorporated four years ago, the Dartford company has been trading for more than 30 years and has a raft of South East and Kent small to medium sized satisfied customers, as witnessed by its website testimonials.

The firm is continually examining its own practice and recently undertook a ‘manager swap’. This meant teaming up with another local accountancy practice whereby each practice had to swap managers for three weeks with the managers having complete authority to be brutally honest with the business owners.

The result meant tweaks carried out on the infrastructure and a Friday pub lunch meant a happier workforce.

Time sheets are now things of the past and each team member has a personal one page plan (POPP) which monitors the numbers that matter to that person.

Business growth manager Miguel Calabrese said: “We achieved Investors in People Silver Accreditation at the first attempt. Only eight per cent of employers achieve this standard and we were the first ever accountancy practice to achieve the six stars AVN Excellence Award.

“Both these awards monitor and assess that the business embeds excellence, recognises achievement and values its team.”

The practice is a member of the Demelza Business Club, part of Demelza Children’s Hospice and holds charity events for them. It also takes its 4 x 2 metre Scalextric track to local schools for their summer and winter fundraising fetes.

Purple Patch is one of the entrants in this year’s Dartford and Gravesham Business Awards, which are supported by the Messenger. Each entrant gets a free profile in the Messenger newspaper and online.

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, the University of Greenwich and new sponsor Edinburgh House.

Entrants must have their main place of business in the Dartford or Gravesham council areas and have been trading for at least a year on the date of entry.

Entry deadline is July 31, 2014.

Visit www.dgbawards.co.uk