Berkshire graduate wins UK innovation award
Orlando Ely hopes to help stroke recovery with his product
Last updated 30th Jan 2023
A graduate from west Berkshire has won a top award for innovation.
23-year-old Orlando Ely from Brimpton has been named a 'young innovator' for a product that combines nature and technology to aid stroke recovery.
Orland told Greatest Hits Radio his product 'blossom' came about after two members of his family suffered strokes:
"I started to research stroke rehabilitation and I saw the difficulties my two family members were having with their rehab and the demotivating aspect and I wanted to find a way of essentially of finding a more stimulating and engaging activity for them to do to then hopefully help them improve and become their old selves."
His product, Blossom, is a hand-held therapy device that allows users to build three flowers using cognitive function and fine motor skills, vital to regaining independent living.
Orlando is one of eleven of this year’s Young Innovator Award winners, announced by Innovate UK, the UK’s innovation agency, who are from the South East.
Orlando and the other south east winners will take a share of the £1.25 million prize fund. They join a cohort of 94 young people aged 18 to 30 with business ideas that could change the world and will benefit from a £5,000 grant, one-on-one business coaching and an allowance to cover living costs.