Entrepreneur Maxine Sault has cleaned up at a prestigious regional awards event, being named the Black Country's Business Woman of the Year.

Maxine, who began running Sandwell-based recycling business Black Country Rag & Wiper last year, was honoured at the Inspirational Women Annual Dinner held at the Copthorne Hotel in Dudley and attended by more than 320 local business people.

Managing director of the 20 year-old recycling business, which employs 65 people, Maxine has taken it out of debt and into profit.

A programme of modernisation and the introduction of a people-oriented management-style has, she says, built a more focused and effective team.

She has recently been appointed chairwoman of Recyclatex, the industry's governing body.

Keynote speaker on the night was Sahar Hashemi, co-founder of Coffee Republic.

The other award winners, sponsored by Black Country Learning and Skills Council unless otherwise stated, were:

Business Start-Up Award (sponsored by Advantage Business Angels): Kerry Delaney, Wonderland Day Nursery, Wednesbury.

Young Entrepreneur Award (sponsored by Peninsula): Kaye Hopkins, Born Communication, Wolverhampton.

Community Excellence Award (sponsored by Workwell): Andrea Sadler, Access 2 Business, Wolverhampton.

Business Woman of the Year Award, Dudley: Marie Rose Sheldon, Apollo Recruitment and Training.

Business Woman of the Year Award, Sandwell: Maxine Sault, Black Country Rag & Wiper.

Business Woman of the Year, Walsall: Alka Patel, QA Electrical Products.

Business Woman of the Year, Wolverhampton: Kelly Smith, Smart Training.