The director of a Kent washroom recycling business has cleaned up at the region’s most prestigious business awards – the Institute of Directors’ London and South East Director of the Year, sponsored by PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Sonja Wood, director of Ashford-based EcoSan Services, won two awards at the London ceremony: Director of the Year for a Business up to £4.99million category and New Business Director of the Year. She was the only female director and the only one from Kent to reach the finals of this year’s awards.

EcoSan offers eco-friendly washroom solutions to businesses in every sector. It was the first southern-based business to offer sanitary, nappy and incontinence recycling and recently recorded another first by recycling chewing gum.

Previously, EcoSan has won the Business Commitment to the Environment at the 2011 KEiBA award and Sonja was 2011 finalist in the Entrepreneur of the Year category.

Sonja said: “I am incredibly proud as Kent Director to have won these two awards, and I am looking forward to taking part in the National finals as an ambassador for the South of England. I hope that my success will inspire more women to become directors as I feel there is a shortage in this country.”

Sonja received her award at a ceremony at London’s Landmark Hotel attended by 300 people.

Rodger Broad, director for the IoD in the South East, said: “The IoD London and the South Director of the Year awards serve to remind people just how talented and driven our region’s business leaders are.

“The South East is the powerhouse of the UK economy and the efforts of directors such as Sonja and our other winners, along with many, many others around the region, will help drive the UK’s economic recovery.

“Her success in this year’s awards is just reward for her hard work and vision and I congratulate her.”

The awards were presented at an Oscar’s style ceremony at London’s Landmark Hotel on Thursday night (March 29).