Rufus Leonard attempts to give QinetiQ energy

Rufus Leonard will present creative concepts next week for a website to support the world record balloon altitude attempt.

The attempt, which could see a manned balloon attempt to hit 132 000ft (40 233m), is sponsored by QinetiQ, the commercial arm of what used to be the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency. Concepts will be presented to QinetiQ.

Rufus Leonard is QinetiQ’s strategic digital consultancy for at least the next two years, a position it was appointed to at the end of November following a five-way strategic pitch.

The contract, worth a six-figure sum, will see the consultancy create a short-, mediumand long-term digital strategy for QinetiQ across all new media channels, including the Internet. The consultancy will give recommendations on content management systems, redeveloping the core website, e-business and e-commerce. It will work on specific websites for QinetiQ joint ventures with other science and technology groups.

The website to support QinetiQ 1, the name of the world record attempt, is scheduled to launch before Christmas.

‘We will design the site. It will contain details of the project, to be updated as the attempt [to be staged in September 2002] nears,’ Rufus Leonard account director Beverley Crighton says. ‘It will also stream live video footage of the attempt itself.’

DERA split into two units in April this year, QinetiQ and Defence Science and Technology Laboratories. Roundel designed the identity of DSTL, while The Partners named and branded QinetiQ (DW 2 March).

DSTL has been retained by the Ministry of Defence, as well as other Government departments, to provide scientific and technical research services. QinetiQ retains the MoD as one of its key clients.