SMELLS LIKE TEAM SPIRIT
At Arcus Global, not only do its apps help major organisations transform the way they communicate with their customers, but team building is taken so seriously that there’s a special staff group called Awesome. Standing for Arcus Workspace Environment Social Organisation Management Executive, it’s well named given the level of imagination that goes into organising team events. From Thirsty Thursdays, where team members nominate a nearby venue for after work get-togethers to Pot Luck Lunches, where people from a range of different countries bring classic dishes to sample, Arcus events are many and varied. Take games night, where one of the highlights is based on vintage TV show Knightmare . It involves someone, whose head is covered by a helmet, being
We address whether everyone believes in the work we're doing, if the values still ring true and if our mission statement works for us and we talk about what sorts of pains we're experiencing as an organisation"
guided round obstacles and through a series of tasks on the office ground floor with the help of instructions and encouragement relayed to their headset by an enthusiastic audience watching from the first floor. In addition to the day in, day out emphasis on team building, firms in our area run larger-scale events that involve going off-site. Format and scale vary widely because here too companies choose activities that underpin their ethos and atmosphere. Arcus Global celebrates its company birthday every June with a summer gathering, while its Christmas party tends to involve a lot of dressing up – recent themes have included heroes and villains and characters from the world of books. Once a year, Simprints’ whole workforce goes off-site. In the firm’s early days, one member of staff would host the event in their own home, conveying a real sense of family and friendship. Today, with 30 employees, a much bigger venue is required but the sense of belonging and collaboration continues. “We all stay together for five or six nights and spend the entire time thinking,” says Christie Civetta. “We address whether everyone believes in the work we’re doing, if the values still ring true and if our mission statement works for us and we talk about what sorts of pains we’re experiencing as an organisation as we grow.” Redgate, meanwhile, now hosts an
CAMBRIDGE COOKERY
annual Level Up conference – though here too, it’s an event with a difference, with potential speakers from within the company putting forward their ideas and staff voting for their favourites. Around 100 ideas have been suggested in the past. Ask any one of these companies whether team building activities adds to a firm’s success and the reaction is universally positive. For example, the Redgate conference is all about creating an event that “would work for everyone, whether you’re a designer, engineer or in management,” says Jeff. Christie Civetta at Simprints agrees. Successful team building events enable people to detach from day-to- day issues, she believes. “It’s about reminding ourselves why we’re here and what we’re doing,” explains Christie. “We take a step back, put it into perspective and then we can put all that into action as a company.”
Founded in 2008, Cambridge Cookery offers an extensive range of corporate team activities, encompassing everything from fun away days to office parties and team building activities. Learn how to make sushi, canapés and chocolate or take part in a masterchef event that can be as competitive as you’d like it to be. Dining events for business customers cover a range of international cuisines, with themes including the Italian, the Souk, the French, the Scandinavian, the Thai and the Far East. And if you’d prefer your own bespoke event, that’s no problem either. QUY MILL The team building packages from Quy Mill Hotel & Spa enable companies to make use of its five-acre field, the perfect place to host outdoor team building games. There's also an indoor conference room to continue the fun and focus on skills including communication, planning, problem-solving and conflict resolution. First-class catering, high-speed internet and ample free parking make the experience a stress-free occasion for the organisers as well.
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