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Case Study

How Aston University engaged 88% of its employees through a unified digital experience

 

 

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88%

active user rate

£663k

in Car Benefit orders (saving employees £220,000 and the university £91,000 in NI contributions)

£22,000

saved in employee discounts in 9 months

£10,000

worth of employee technology and white goods purchases covered through SmartTech™

Just nine months in, Aston University has driven higher engagement system usage, stronger recognition and substantial employee and business savings.

Table of Contents

    What they needed

    Aston University employs more than 2,000 people across academic and professional services roles. With a wide range of benefits, wellbeing resources and support services available, the university wanted to make it easier for colleagues to discover, access and engage with everything on offer in one clear and accessible place.

    The Reward & Benefits Team recognised an opportunity to take a more strategic and engaging approach to employee benefits communications, creating a platform that would support colleagues across different roles and working patterns, including those with limited regular access to email or desktop systems.

    The ambition was to improve visibility, strengthen engagement, support a positive employee experience and contribute to Aston’s wider people strategy and employer brand. The team set out to introduce a solution that could provide seamless access, encourage regular usage habits and help position Aston as a great place to work.

    How we helped

    With the full backing of senior leadership, Aston University partnered with Reward Gateway | Edenred to launch One Aston Thrive – a fully branded employee engagement system that offered centralised access to benefits, built-in data reporting and mobile access through a dedicated app.

    The development of One Aston Thrive was driven by the University’s initial Employee Value Proposition (EVP) framework and its four pillars (Appreciation, Benefits, Wellbeing and Community), supporting wellbeing, strengthening recognition, fostering belonging and enabling growth.

    Delivered through a web and mobile app, the platform streamlines access for employees to their discounts programme, Wellbeing Centre, electric vehicle scheme and SmartTech™ - enabling salary‑deduction purchases of tech and white goods - in one central location.

    Aston University also introduced a digital recognition programme with bespoke, fully branded eCards, empowering colleagues to celebrate everyday contributions. Tools to automate recognition now help the Reward & Benefits team to mark tenure milestones, reinforcing the university’s Appreciation value throughout the year and freeing up resource for other priorities.

    One Aston Thrive also includes integrated communication tools, which tied everything together by enabling the team to share updates, spotlight stories and encourage two-way dialogue across departments and facilities. To support strong adoption, the team implemented a multi-channel engagement plan, including physical posters for offline staff, manager briefings, onboarding packs for new starters and regular in-person events co-hosted with Reward Gateway | Edenred.

    Belinda Wong_ Photo"The rapid rise in engagement has been genuinely inspiring. It reflects the value of putting the right tools, content and support in front of colleagues. We are committed to building on this progress and making sure every colleague can easily discover, access and benefit from what is available to them."

    Belinda Wong, Reward and Benefits Lead at Aston University

    What they achieved

    Within just nine months, One Aston Thrive has transformed employee engagement across the university, delivering incredible results both in system usage and in financial savings for employees and the organisation.

    Usage has surged, with 88% of employees now active on the platform, supported by a smooth mobile experience and consistent communications. Employees have saved £22,000 through the discounts programme, while SmartTech™ has supported over £10,000 in essential tech and white goods purchases. The Wellbeing Centre has attracted 1,400+ visits, and colleagues have shared 500 eCards, helping embed a culture of continuous appreciation.

    Participation in the electric vehicle scheme has accelerated rapidly, with £663,000 worth of vehicles leased so far. This has saved employees £212,000 and the university £91,000 in National Insurance contributions, delivering a clear and measurable return on investment.

    This consolidation of benefits has simplified the user journey, reduced friction and strengthened a culture of appreciation by making positive interactions quick, visible and easy.

    The Reward & Benefits team also benefits from robust reporting tools that provide accurate usage insights, automated payroll reporting and clear visibility of opportunities to improve on and scale.

    In just a short time, One Aston Thrive has reshaped how employees view benefits, strengthened everyday engagement and provided the solid foundation Aston needed to deliver a modern, values‑led employee experience.

    This impact was recognised when Aston University won the Digital and Technological Innovation and Change Award at the UHR Awards for Excellence in HR 2026.

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