MC Personnel is an independent recruitment business which opened its Gravesend office in 2001 after trading successfully in Gillingham since 1998.

The company now offers a recruitment service to the whole of Kent specialising in industrial, office and catering personnel to meet the demand of local companies.

Branch manager Tracey Stringer said: “Being independent there is the flexibility to offer a tailor-made service to suit individual companies. We offer staffing solutions both temporary and permanent to companies throughout Kent and many of our clients have worked with us since our first year of trading 15 years ago.

“We recruit and offer employment to local candidates and are proud that our first ever temp registered is still working for us today. We have around 300 staff out working daily, but this can increase to more than 500 per day.

“We are committed to providing a quality service with every candidate interviewed face to face and evaluated in their specialised field.”

The company also holds an operator’s licence for a fleet of 15 minibuses enabling it to offer its candidates subsidised transport.

In 2008, this service was extended to local schools known as the ‘chuckle buses’, taking pupils on school trips and local activities at affordable prices. There are now 23 schools being provided with this service.

In more recent years this side of the business has been extended to local businesses for private hire, the general public and also to provide one of its competitors with a transport service as they do not have their own.

Tracey said: “At MC Personnel, we realise the importance of supporting charities and generally will do something fun to raise money. We have competed in the Dragon’s Race at Maidstone and we all dressed up for Red Nose Day.”

MD Personnel is one of the entrants in the Dartford and Gravesham Business Awards. 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 and the University of Greenwich.

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