Corporate away days are the best way to bring your team together, boost morale and allow your team to let their hair down!

Working in the same environment day after day with the same people can drain the enthusiasm out of even your most dedicated team members so hosting a team away day is the perfect way to boost the energy levels.

If this sounds like something your company would benefit from then you’re in the right place. We’ve created this handy guide on all the top things to consider when planning corporate away days like no other.

A kitchen venue in London the perfect event to consider when planning a corporate team away day. The venue has kitchen on the right hand side and then dining tables on the left hand side where your guests can enjoy the food they have prepared

 

Why do you want to host an away day?

Don’t just host an away day for the sake of it, it’s important to think about what you want to get out of the day. Is it too boost morale, improve relationships between colleagues in your team or just for a much-needed break from the office to enhance productivity? The reason behind this event will affect what you choose to do so have a think what your team really need.
Afternoons out of the office to partake in team-building activities can be crucial in getting your employees to work better together and the skills they learn can then be taken and adapted into the working environment.
What do you want to do?

Once you’ve figured out why you need this away day treat you should think about what you actually want to do. If you just want to treat your team after a quarter of serious hard work then there’s nothing better than a relaxing stay in the country home or luxurious hotel.

If you want to boost relationships then London is jam-packed with team building activities you and your team could take part in. From cooking classes, crazy golf, archery lessons or escape rooms, there are lots of fun things to do in London that will make your team work better together. If you want some inspiring ideas for corporate away days then check out our handy blog here!

Where?

Once you’ve got an idea of why and where you want to host corporate away days then you should start to think about location. London is filled with quirky and innovative things to do on every corner which are easily accessible to everyone.

If you’re growing a little tired of the City and fancy a change of scenery, then there are plenty of amazing venues to look at a little further afield, which you can find in our Country Escapes Collection, that offer lots of fun team building away day activities for everyone to get involved in.

Archery Fit is a great corporate away days venue. The space is a large reception area which has a large archery sign in yellow above the desk. On the right hand side there are several bean bags on the floor then behind that a small kitchen area.

Transportation

If you’re taking your whole team to the other side of the city then you need to think about what is the best way to get to the location of your team away day idea.
If you’re moving out of London for a bit of fresh country air then look into the different ways you can reach the facilities. Think about hiring a minibus, taxi or coach so that everyone can travel together.
Black and White Bus during Daytime on a busy highway on it's way to a corporate away day

If it’s somewhere nearby then obviously save some budget and use the tube. Make sure everyone knows the easiest way to get there whether that’s by train, tube or on foot.
If some of your attendees want to make their own way there then make sure you know whether there is onsite or nearby car parking sites for them to use.
We’ve made this as easy as possible for you by integrating with Citymapper, you can now find out the easiest way to get to a venue from your office by clicking the Citymapper icon, which is perfect to share with your attendees.

Budget

Great team away day ideas don’t mean you need to spend a fortune! You can find plenty of activities to do that won’t break the bank. If you don’t believe us then make sure you check out our handy blog on cheap away day ideas. 
Going for an option that’s local to your office can really help cut down the cost of the day. If you’re a small company you can easily take part in fun activities without going for complete venue take over.
Whether that’s booking your team into a round or two of golf at Swingers, or booking a private area at Bounce, the home of Ping Pong. Taking part in a competitive activity will generate some much needed friendly competition and is a great way of getting the team spirit pumping.

Black Calculator Near Ballpoint Pen on White Printed Paper


Things to avoid at all cost!


1. Tight deadlines
If you work in an industry that has seasonal demands then avoid booking your away day in a peak season where everyone is working towards very tight deadlines. An away day is meant to be a chance to relax and asking your team to abandon projects at a very hectic time of year can do more harm than good.
Your corporate away days should be a reward so plan it after an onslaught of busy deadlines will mean your team appreciates the event a lot more.

2. Poor organisation
You want to make the most of your away day and don’t want to waste any time. Make sure you plan a schedule for the entire day and stick to it as tightly as possible.
Share the away day plan with the attendees so that everyone knows exactly what they are doing and what’s happening on the day.

3. Lack of engagement
You don’t want members of your team to get bored or distracted at the away day. If they don’t find the day engaging or exciting then you won’t achieve your goal. Make sure the day is an equal balance of fun and challenging.
Be vigilant and make sure everyone is getting involved. If the away day revolves around team activities then try to mix colleagues into groups of people they don’t usually work with so that they have a chance to build new relationships.

4. Ask for Feedback
Many people will forget to ask for feedback after any corporate away days your organise, but it’s a great opportunity to find out how you can improve on the next one. Find out what people enjoy doing and what they didn’t so that you can improve each time you host one.


There’s plenty of fun and exciting things you can do for a quirky team away day so think outside the box and plan something really special for your team! If you want some more inspiring ideas then check out our collection of team away day activities. 

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