THE Gravesend branch of Barclays Bank now boasts a new fully-trained small business banker. Jason Small will be on hand to give detailed advice to firms based in the town now he has completed an extensive training programme to give him in-depth knowledge and understanding of the day-to-day issues facing smaller companies.

A BEXLEYHEATH man, who left school more than 26 years ago without any qualifications, has just won a City and Guilds silver medal for his outstanding portfolio of work. Raymond Smith was studying at Croydon College to become an NVQ assessor for his job as a service engineer at Transco. The 43-year-old said: "Now I feel like I've really achieved something."

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