Lorna’s career path has been exciting, challenging and rewarding. Her early career saw her taking over and running a family business in crisis, taking it from the brink of disaster to a successful and profitable company. Joining the charity world Lorna first achieved £2 million in 12 months for Sense. This was followed by the Foundation for Conductive Education as their National Funding Director where a further initial £1.5million was raised in 12 months. Lorna also achieved the largest amount ever given by BBC Children in Need for a capital project – twice!
Invited to take up the position of first Chief Executive at Birmingham Forward, Lorna worked with a team of people to take the early development of this organisation towards greater and wider acknowledgement of the professional and financial service firms in Birmingham; the challenge was to promote Birmingham U.K. both nationally and throughout Europe.
Lorna left Birmingham Forward to set up her own company in 1991. Lorna’s company offers high-level professional training programmes to all business sectors. These programmes include Public Speaking, Presentation Skills and Effective Communication plus other communication related programmes, Reaching New Heights – sales training and Multi-Media coaching.
Clients in the UK include Coutts, BT, Lloyds TSB, 3M UK, Mitsui & Co UK, E. ON, Barclays Bank plc, W H Smith, Glaxo SmithKline, Deloitte, The DVLA, Pricewaterhousecoopers, Pizza Hut, Halfords, The Home Office, Oxford University MBA’s and many more well-known names. Overseas clients include The Henkel Group, E-ON, Yum Europe and Coca-Cola.
Lorna has now worked in 28 countries including South Africa, Canada, the Bahamas, Germany, France, Ireland, Holland, America, New Zealand, Poland, Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Dubai, Bahrain, Singapore and Malawi and worked with people from Saudi Arabia to name a few, enhancing communication on a global basis. Lorna has coached/trained well over 100 000 people in the 25 years since setting up her business.
First Female Fellow of the Institute of Directors in the Midlands, a Member of the Westminster Club, a Member of the Institute of Marketing, a Council Member of the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce and Industry, an International Licensed Corporate Trainer for International Training in Communication and Founder of the Birmingham UK and Lichfield Branches of I.T.C. together with being a Founder Member of The Professional Speakers’ Association UK. Finally, a Director and Trustee of Abbots Bromley School.
Lorna is a qualified public speaker with over 28 years’ experience both in speaking herself and in the development of others. She won a Midlands Excellence in Marketing Award, was runner up in the UK National Business Woman of the Year contest and voted Network Midlands Business Woman of Achievement. She was also a Winner of the GB Region Powertalk International Speech Contest. Writing is also added to her list of interests. Lorna has written monthly for a U.K. magazine for 5 years and now writes for The Institute of Chartered Accountants journal. She is currently completing her first book, starting a second book and has attempted to set up a business for ex-prisoners in South Africa.
Following the success of heading up and developing an award scheme and writing the training programmes for top trainers in 35 countries Lorna has been invited to become the first Fellow of International Training in Communication since this worldwide organisation was founded in 1938.
All business around the world came via word of mouth
Lorna is one of the best communicators and trainers of public speaking that I have come across. Having benefited from workshops run by Lorna I have gained more confidence and improved my presentation skills. There is no doubt in my mind that you will too. Highly recommended
Robert Anglin
Independent Financial Planner
I first worked with Lorna on one of her open days. This was a superb introduction to mastering the art of public speaking and communication. Of all the courses of this nature that I have attended throughout my career, this was by far the best. Lorna style is challenging, interesting and fun for her clients. She has made me look critically at my presenting and communication style and without doubt has been able to enhance my chances of career progression. Everyone I know who has worked with Lorna speaks highly of her. I cannot recommend her services highly enough.
Matt Gee
Chief Financial Officer at Arden University
Lorna is a very professional business lady and excellent trainer! I have attended a number of Lorna’s Public Speaking skills courses which are excellent value and have achieved great results. Her ongoing encouragement, support and skills have helped me achieve personal goals and overcome my fear of public speaking! From being an unconfident speaker to presenting to over 3000 delegates! Thank you Lorna
Karen Williams
Founder Buddy Bag Foundation