Cancer survivor wins inaugural Orange Different Business competition to help people fight illness

Orange announced that Lorna Perks of Lorna Lou Ltd has been selected as winner of the first Orange Different Business competition, following a live pitch this afternoon.  Selling their innovative ideas about how to do business differently, three finalists presented to an esteemed judging panel at a central London venue, which included Trevor Baylis OBE, inventor of the wind-up radio, and John Illman, former chairman of the Medical Journalists Association.
Chosen for its potential to benefit people suffering from a wide range of illnesses, Lorna Lou Ltd battled against two other small businesses, ABeterno Ltd, a biotech company that has developed a revolutionary way to isolate cancer cells, and Guess2Give, a world first that makes raising money for UK charities more fun by introducing a sweepstake element for everyone who takes part. The finalists had been selected by public vote from a shortlist of 10 to enter the final stage of the competition. Lorna Parks will receive business advice from Kingston Smith, one of the UK's top 20 accountancy firms; communications support from Orange; expert marketing consultancy from Publicis Chemistry, legal advice from Lewis Silkin, a firm of solicitors specialising in corporate and commercial law, and mentoring from entrepreneurial guru, Mike Southon, who will also work with the two other finalists.
Lorna Perks, founder of Lorna Lou Ltd: “Winning the competition is such a huge opportunity for me and my business and I’m thrilled to have been selected by Orange as the winner of its Different Business competition. One of the most daunting things about starting out as a new company is not knowing who you can turn to if you need advice, and that’s what’s so great about this competition – it will not only give me the kit I need to succeed, but also the skills and knowledge.”
Spencer McHugh, Brand Director at Everything Everywhere, the company which runs Orange, said: “At Orange, it’s our aim to make business as easy as possible for our customers, and so by launching this competition, not only did we want to find Britain’s brightest business idea, but more importantly, we want to help it to grow into a successful company.  We know that it takes more than just a cash to turn an idea into a business, and our team of experts is going to provide Lorna  with the arsenal of marketing, legal and communications tools and skills they need to succeed.”
The judging panel also included Nigel Jones, Chairman & CEO Publicis Group UK; Maureen Penfold, Partner of Kingston Smith LLP; and Spencer McHugh, Brand Director at Everything Everywhere.