York: 09 Dec 2025: Trustmarque has announced a transformative five-year partnership with Aston University, powered by a next-generation Cisco network, to revolutionise the digital experience for more than 22,000 students and staff. This strategic alliance, underpinned by the adoption of Cisco’s EA3.0 platform, marks a significant advancement in digital modernisation for the university sector. Combining enhanced coverage, rapid shared service responsiveness, and proactive lifecycle management, the agreement is projected to deliver savings exceeding £1 million over five years. Recognised by Cisco as a Partner Services Success Story for 2025, this collaboration is redefining what can be achieved when the right technology investments are procured into higher education.
Reflecting on the deal and the latest announcement, Trustmarque’s Enterprise Connectivity Practice Director, Eilidh Mackinnon, commented:
"This reflects the strength of our partnership with Aston University and our shared commitment to Cisco innovation.” The strategic agreement marked a significant step forward in delivering cutting-edge technology solutions to support Aston University’s digital transformation, as Eilidh explains: “By leveraging Cisco’s CX-EA 3.0 platform, we have created a solution that delivers real value and positions Aston University for future success. We are incredibly proud of the team who thoroughly deserve this recognition from Cisco."
Chris Jones, Head of Public Sector at Trustmarque, added:
“Thank you to the Enterprise Connectivity division for their outstanding work in the university sector and their dedication to building this partnership. We are incredibly proud of our partnership with Aston University and look forward to continuing to support this world-leading University.”
Trustmarque’s proactive support ensures fast issue resolution and improved campus connectivity. The “shift left” helpdesk approach speeds up problem-solving, while new Cisco services like Webex enable cloud-based communications and transition away from traditional telephony.
This collaboration not only future-proofs infrastructure but also positions Trustmarque as a central partner in shaping technology strategy, driving value for money, and accelerating outcomes that support Aston’s aspirations for inclusive growth, cutting-edge research, and enterprise leadership.
Trevor Bayliss, Digital Services Technical Director at Aston University, added: “Trustmarque’s way of working and the value that Customer Success Management offers were truly aligned with the needs of the university. Building on our existing strategic partnership, this new agreement brings long-term stability to the University, saving significant costs and committing to a long-term series of service and technology improvements.”
The solution includes Cisco Success Tracks and a proactive support model, enabling Aston University to monitor its adoption cycle and accelerate time-to-value. This approach has already delivered results, helping the university open its new John Cadbury House campus within a challenging timeframe by mapping requirements and aligning outcomes quickly. Trustmarque has enabled timely delivery and offers expertise that accelerates innovation, supporting Aston University as it oversees its digital transformation.
Aston University, a long-term Trustmarque client, has used Cisco’s EA 2.0 since 2023. In March 2025, Cisco launched CX-EA 3.0, integrating hardware, software, and licensing into one agreement. After evaluating the benefits with Trustmarque, Aston chose EA 3.0 to support its 2030 vision for scalable, flexible, and cost-effective infrastructure. Featuring Cisco Success Tracks and proactive support, the solution is helping Aston monitor adoption and speed up value realisation. Upgraded LAN and WLAN based on Cisco’s digital architecture, now deliver reliable high-speed connectivity to 22,000 users. Trustmarque’s fast deployment and customer success initiatives further align with Aston’s digital-first, growth-focused strategy.
Trustmarque is a leading technology solutions provider, delivering innovative IT services and solutions that empower organisations to achieve more. In October 2025, Trustmarque merged with Ultima Business Solutions, becoming one of the UK’s largest IT service providers.
Trustmarque’s Customer Experience (CX) is dedicated to helping organisations accelerate their digital transformation and achieve business outcomes through expert guidance, advanced Cisco technology adoption, and lifecycle optimisation services. The CX-EA 3.0 platform simplifies IT management by unifying licensing and services under one comprehensive agreement.