With the aim of exploring the relationship between Rolls-Royce and the RAF, and how it could eventually lead to a mission to Mars, the two are releasing a series of videos to inspire young adults to pursue STEM careers. The weekly videos, hosted on YouTube, include competitions and current events coverage.

The campaign, called ‘Starrship,’ has been designed with the objective of encouraging young people to get involved in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Rolls-Royce and the RAF are working with Perspective Pictures, a video company founded by YouTube star Rupert Rixon, on the campaign. The production company will also produce a variety of videos with the Royal Air Force as part of the Royal Air Force’s centenary celebrations.

Rixon says, “It’s massively exciting to be working with some of the most prestigious and innovative brands in the world. To think just a little more than two years ago we were working from a shed in my parents’ back garden; now we’re producing top quality digital-first video for clients across the world.”

‘Starrship’ is a big departure from anything Rolls-Royce and the RAF had ever done before. Using a huge media platform like YouTube, the campaign offers in a fun, simple, yet educational way, information about STEM and space. Some recent topics found in Starrship’s YouTube channel include: ‘Elon Musk and the future of space travel,’ ‘How to survive in space, explained by a Rolls-Royce engineer’ and ‘Kids vs. Rolls-Royce engineers.’

This is not the first time Rolls-Royce and the RAF have worked together; the two organisations have had a longstanding relationship since 1918. Their most recent collaboration was the opening of a new £4.5m Rolls Royce centre at Moray RAF base in June 2017.

Dave Gordon, senior vice president & director of UK defence aerospace at Rolls Royce says, “Rolls-Royce has been partnering with the RAF to pioneer innovation since it first took to the skies in 1918. We wanted to embrace that spirit of innovation and use it to inspire tomorrow’s engineers and pilots, so what better way than to recruit youngsters to think about how we can fly to Mars? Our aim is to inspire young people to use today’s technology and tomorrow’s imagination to power the next 100 years of innovation.”

In order to keep the videos interesting, Perspective Pictures focused not only on the content, but also on the quality of the videos, since Rixon believes that in order for the audience to engage with the content brands put out online, they need to stop posting TV-style video. He says the alternative approach means the Starrship films are more narrative-driven and creative.

Rolls Royce is funding and producing ‘Starrship’ together with its partners, the RAF and the Royal Air Forces Association, the charity that supports the RAF. The project will demonstrate the important role of the Royal Air Sources Association in helping RAF personnel, veterans and their families.

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