The largest private sector employer in Ashford celebrates its 30th anniversary today.

Market researcher Facts International employs about 60 staff and has more than 1,000 interviewers on its books working at its call centre.

The business was founded at Willesborough Business Centre at the old hospital in 1985 and is now based at Henwood industrial estate.

Its first employee Barbara Palmer, who joined as a coder, is still at the firm.

The company was taken over by Chime Communications in 2007 and has since seen annual turnover break £7 million and open opened its first office in Sydney.

“It has massively changed,” said managing director Emily Kettle.

“Facts back then relied on a lot of repeat business. It was a lot smaller and didn’t make as much money.

“The brands we are working with now are very different. Originally we were working for other agencies. Now we are working for end clients.”

The company also employs 3,000 people working around the UK doing face-to-face interviews, managed by 12 regional directors, often doing things like fragrance testing.

Mrs Kettle believes the success of the business has been down to its attitude to staff, who will celebrate today with a cake cutting and lunch.

She said: “We don’t stress enough the stories where interviewers have gone on to become the managing director or the head of Australia.

“It is not just interviewing. There are doors to other opportunities.

“We don’t stress enough the stories where interviewers have gone on to become the managing director or the head of Australia..." - Emily Kettle, Facts International

“It is still quite a family-orientated business. It is small enough that everyone knows each other’s names. Although it gets harder with the interviewers, a lot of them have been here for more than 20 years and been loyal to Facts.

“It is so flexible. If people have children they can leave at 3pm to get the children. Some fathers come in the evening when their partner is home and they can cover childcare.”

The company is looking to expand its premises, possibly onto its car park. The firm does not want to split its departments into different buildings because of the connection its staff have with bosses.

The board also like to man the phones every now and again, to keep them on their toes.

Chief executive Crispin Beale said: “It is quite nerve wracking because if you muck it up they are all going to listen because all the calls are recorded.

“You should never ask someone to do something you wouldn’t be prepared to do yourself. It is important to keep you fresh so you understand the challenges. I try to encourage every project manager to go out and do it with every job and we don’t do it enough.”