For the past 172 years, legal firm Hatten Wyatt has been based in Gravesend. It is a big employer, with 65 staff and prides itself in being part of the community.

Set in central Gravesend, the offices are situated in outstanding, converted buildings with large airy rooms and a fully functional interactive boardroom.

The company recently converted a large section of the basement into a new staff room complete with TV, sofas and a music system.

Marketing executive Lisa Cranney said: “Having been neighbours to several other local businesses for such a long time, we have also secured special offers for our staff including discounted lunches, dry cleaning and beauty appointments to name a few.

“Not only does this highlight the importance of our staff, it also encourages them to reinvest into the local community.”

Hatten Wyatt is a business that has grown and developed with clients who have been with them for a long time and wouldn’t dream of going elsewhere.

With more than 50 areas of expertise, the firm is currently developing a programme of seminars with two other local businesses within the Dartford and Gravesend areas, aimed at using their combined expertise to engage and educate a target audience of small and medium-sized enterprises.

The aim is to show companies how to future-proof themselves by enabling them to develop and grow, which in turn will benefit the community.

Although the firm mainly serves clients in north Kent, it also provides legal services for the non–resident Indian community. And it has an Indian import and export service via an associated office in Delhi.

But when it comes to local engagement and sponsorship, Hatten Wyatt is totally absorbed.

Lisa added: “We are so thrilled to be official sponsors of the Community Square Christmas tree for the next five years.

“The tree is the most wonderful symbol of community spirit, and we can’t think of a better way to bring everyone together year on year.

“Continuing on with the Christmas theme, this year we are also delighted to be sponsoring the Land Train, which will be transporting visitors around the local area so they can visit various events being held in the town centre, such as the Christmas Market and Christmas on the Hill, which is being hosted by another one of our close business partners, The Windmill Tavern.”

The company also provides pro bono legal advice in partnership with Citizen Advices’s Advice Together service.

It is a main sponsor of Gravesham’s Riverside Festival, and has supported Gravesham in Bloom and the town’s Paul Greengrass Cinema and Secret Garden play area at The Woodville, as well as the statue of the Queen that is due to go in St Andrew’s Gardens.

Staff have mentored students from Invicta Grammar School, organising mock interviews and taking on student placement.

And the Gravesend over-50s group comes together three times a year to discuss important issues at a forum that Hatten Wyatt attends, answering questions and offering support.

Being an important part of the community is at the heart of everything that Hatten Wyatt does.

Hatten Wyatt is just one of several companies to enter this year’s Dartford and Gravesham Business Awards.

The awards 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 Jones FM.