Leyland firm scoops six-figure top prize in worldwide Cisco competition

Leyland-based OrmIT Solutions has triumphed in an innovation competition held by US tech giant Cisco, landing a cash prize of $200,000.

OrmIT Solutions and its cloud-based WiFi Splash Access was the overall winner of Cisco’s Sixth Annual Partner Innovation Challenge, beating competition from businesses around the world to scoop the grand prize.  

The business, which employs six people, will now invest the money in more staff and developing new technologies.  

Tim Ormrod, who founded OrmIT alongside wife Helen Ormrod, flew out to Miami to be presented with the award by Alex Pujols, a Cisco vice president, who said this year’s innovation challenge, had shown ‘incredible creativity, expertise and pure passion’.  

Splash Access has partnered with Cisco since launching 11 years ago and integrates into the global giant’s Meraki cloud. It provides secure internet access at WiFi hotspots in public places at the same time as collecting data for clients.  

The business has specialised in the high street retail sector in the UK, with Splash Access used by coffee shop chains and restaurants as well as global brands like CK, Tommy’s and Tiffany and Co. The solution is also used at the United Nations and UNICEF.

In the US, Splash Access is increasingly involved in the education sector, linking up with Cisco Meraki in universities across the country. It gives students a home-away-from-home experience, allowing them secure internet access for all their devices.  

As an example, it serves 45,000 students at Purdue University in West Lafayette and 20,000 at the Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond.   

Cisco’s citation said: “OrmIT Solutions’ Splash Access’s solution enhances security and user access control for universities and multiple domestic units. This ensures private and secure communications with a user-friendly portal for self-service registration.

"It incorporates a feature-rich WiFi solution that simplifies the administrative burden for customers while delivering a home-away-from-home network experience. Tremendous work OrmIT Solutions.”