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The Operations Director of a Northamptonshire-based asbestos removal and biohazard cleaning company has won a prestigious local award.
Elena Paunete, of Specialist Remediation Solutions (SRS), was crowned Business Leader of the Year at the recent Wellingborough and North Northamptonshire Chamber of Commerce Business Awards.
The awards, which were part of a breakfast event held at Wellingborough Golf Club, recognise the innovation, resilience, and community spirit that make the region’s businesses thrive.
Paunete single-handedly kept SRS running last year after Managing Director Stephen Booth was unexpectedly taken ill, ensuring as little disruption as possible for both staff and clients.
Her efforts led to her quickly being promoted from Operations Manager to Operations Director and since then she has continued to thrive, pushing the business forward by securing major contracts and leading the team to provide a consistently first-class service.
In a heartfelt tribute to his right-hand-woman, Booth said: “In July 2024, I was admitted to hospital with serious heart complications that led to major open-heart surgery. I spent time on life support and was unable to return to work for an extended period.
“Elena had only recently joined us at SRS, yet she immediately excelled in her role, stepping up to cover my responsibilities during this extremely challenging time.
“Asbestos removal and biohazard cleaning are not easy tasks, but Elena took on the day-to-day running of the business with professionalism and confidence. She even managed our Health and Safety Executive licence renewal while I was recovering, ensuring everything continued to run smoothly until I was able to return.“Despite the demands of the job, Elena also found time to visit me in hospital, offering not only practical support but genuine emotional care. Her dedication, compassion, and commitment during such a difficult period meant more than words can express.”
Paunete said: “Winning this award was a really lovely surprise, but it wouldn’t have happened without the sheer graft and determination of the whole team. It was a testing time for all of us, yet everyone pulled together like absolute champions.
“I got back to the office after the award ceremony to find a gorgeous bunch of flowers from my guys. I’m truly grateful for this lot — they really do make the everyday chaos worth it.”
