Sky's Not The Limit At Derby
12 July 2010
University Marketing Manager Felicity Preston (far left) and Sharon Davies, UK Sales Director for Brand Connections Global (far right), with a Ryanair crew onboard one of the planes featuring the new Derby campaign banners.
We wanted to take an innovative approach which would maximise our reach among an essentially captive audience.
”Peter Allen, University of Derby Marketing Director.
A closer look at one of the University's new airplane banners.
Many people become high-fliers after graduating from the University of Derby - now it is telling those already up in the air how study could help their careers.
Derby is believed to be the first UK University to try out a new way for businesses and organisations to tell people about their services, by putting information banners on the overhead lockers inside commercial airplanes. Posters with the same graphics will be used on airport gates.
The University's new promotional campaign - for people looking to boost their job skills through its postgraduate degree and work-related courses - has been cleverly designed to fit in with the signs people would normally see around airports.
Almost 500,000 passengers using Ryanair flights out of East Midlands Airport and bmi flights at Manchester Airport this summer will see a variety of different University messages on the banners, in distinctive yellow-and-black, including:
- Just Landed - the career you've always dreamed of
- First Class - qualifications and postgraduate courses
- Check In 24/7 - study anywhere, anytime, online
- Take Off - turbo boost your career
- New Destinations - where will your new qualification take you?
They will also be directed to a new website at www.derby.ac.uk/fly to find out how other people have benefited from joining a Derby course. There they can find out what's on offer, book to come on a University open day and order a prospectus.
Peter Allen, Marketing Director at the University of Derby, said: "The objectives of this campaign were very clear. We wanted to take an innovative approach which would maximise our reach among an essentially captive audience.
He added: "Derby is a modern and innovative place to study, with very flexible postgraduate degree options. You can study around work or other commitments.
"We offer anything from masters degrees, to postgraduate certificates and diplomas, to shorter professional courses. Subjects you can study include arts, design, technology, humanities, business, computing, law, education, health, sciences; hospitality, events, tourism and spa management."
Stephen McNamara, of Ryanair, said: "Ryanair is the Europe's largest scheduled airline. Our mix of low fares and great routes this summer makes advertising on Ryanair aircraft the ideal proposition for those looking to speak directly to people who may be considering their education options."
Fluid Media Services Ltd of Derby, a creative digital design agency founded by the University's own graduates, and media consultants Brand Connections Global of London set up the University's new marketing campaign.
For further media information please contact Press and PR Officer Sean Kirby on 01332 591891 or 07876 476103, or email s.kirby@derby.ac.uk.
