Operation Stack did not stop florist the Flower Pot from being able to offer fresh daily flowers. The firm just ordered more blooms from other countries and had them flown in to fill the gap.

The shop, in Windmill Street, Gravesend, has traded for over 40 years under the management of owner Frankie Davison and business partner Garry Butchers.

It offers flowers not normally found elsewhere, sourcing them from Holland, Ecuador and Columbia.

Flower Pot also works with schools employing work experience students and has been awarded certificates for its help in this field. It has worked with the KEATS organisation giving young people apprenticeship opportunities.

The business is built on outstanding customer service and has a number of celebrity customers.

Flowerpot Garden Maintenance is another arm of the firm and will assist with the design of a garden, be it old English country style or something more modern. The service will source the required plants.

Mr Davison runs floristry courses for those wanting to take it up as a career, or day or evening courses for those who want to improve their skills.

There is even a two-day workshop to learn the basic skills needed to create bridal designs including bouquets, buttonholes and table arrangements.

At Christmas, shorter sessions are held where customers can choose to make either their own festive door wreath, or a magical table centre piece.

The courses includes all stock and materials.

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.