Coming from a family of cake decorators, Samantha Hamer remembers as a teenager growing up with royal icing cake characters drying in her bedroom.

Now fully qualified and certificated with a PME Masters Diploma in sugar paste and flowers and royal icing, Samantha runs the Cake Innovation shop in Lawrance Square, Northfleet, along with business partner Christine McGrath, whose background is from the City.

The business sells sugar craft equipment, runs classes and makes bespoke wedding and celebration cakes.

Samantha said: “Creating cakes that are unique and special is a real passion of mine – something that makes your day that little bit more special, a memory to treasure.

“I have fallen into modelling, probably from playing with too much Play-Doh with my children and having had various eclectic requests for cake toppers that can be anything from Vespa scooters, bespoke bride and groom characters to a Las Vegas one-armed bandit.

“Sharing my skills with others is such a fantastic and rewarding experience.

“We cater for hobby bakers learning new skills, those wanting to update their skills and learn new techniques as well as those wanting to make their own wedding cakes.

“Here, at Cake Innovations we like to pass on our skills in a fun, informative, but informal way.”

The company is one of the contenders for this year's Dartford and Gravesham Business Awards, which are now in their 10th year.

They are supported by the Messenger, and each entrant gets a free profile in our papers and on our website.

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, University of Greenwich and Mid Kent College.

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