Talk to an Inntel expert
A great team building event should do more than give everyone a day away from their desks. Done well, it brings colleagues together, strengthens relationships, boosts motivation and creates shared experiences that people genuinely remember. And with hybrid and remote working now commonplace for so many organisations, meaningful face-to-face connection is more valuable than ever.
But what makes a successful team building event? The answer is different for every team. Group size, company culture, objectives, budget, accessibility, location and, importantly, what your people will actually enjoy must all be considered.
That’s where experience helps. Inntel is an award-winning corporate travel, meetings and events agency with more than 40 years’ industry experience. Our Meetings and Events specialists organise everything from company away days and team building activities to large-scale conferences and international incentive trips. They’re also regularly out experiencing venues and activities themselves, bringing first-hand knowledge and plenty of inspiration back to our clients.
The best corporate team building activities are those that reflect what you want your people to get out of the experience.
Do you want to challenge them to think differently? Improve communication between departments? Support employee wellbeing? Reward great performance? Or simply give everyone an opportunity to let off steam and have fun?
Get clear on the purpose first and the right team building event ideas become much easier to find.
Fortunately, we’ve planned, tried, tested – and occasionally tasted – plenty of them along the way. Below are some examples to give you an idea.
At Down Hall, Inntel’s ESG Executive, Ellen Mutimer, tried an immersive dining experience that turned the meal itself into part of the entertainment.
“It’s a setting that encourages connection with nature, with people and with purpose,” Ellen explains.
Experiences like this can work particularly well when you want to combine a company dinner with something a little different, without organising a completely separate activity.
Our Meetings and Events team put BOOM BATTLE BAR in Chelmsford to the test, trying everything from axe throwing and augmented-reality darts to crazier golf. There are also karaoke booths, American pool and more activities on offer.
Alongside some healthy competition, the team explored the venue’s event spaces, activities and corporate hire options, giving them first-hand knowledge to share with clients looking for something fun, memorable and a little competitive.
Similarly, Sixes Social Cricket combines immersive cricket simulators with food and drink, making it a great option for teams looking for an informal group activity with some friendly rivalry thrown in.
Like ducks to water, Team Inntel went paddleboarding as part of the company’s 40th anniversary celebrations. It was a great way get get outside our comfort zones. Even the British weather couldn’t spoil the fun.
Nothing says team bonding quite like helping a colleague back onto their board after an unexpected dip in the water!
Of course, we’ve also organised plenty of memorable team building experiences for our clients, from activities on the Thames to incentive trips overseas.
Here are a few ideas from events we’ve delivered.
Dragon boat racing
How do you bring more than 400 colleagues together for a memorable company event?
For this Inntel client, we combined a business-focused morning conference with an afternoon of dragon boat racing on the Thames.
Teams had to work together to get the best results, creating plenty of friendly competition along the way. And delegates who preferred to stay on dry land could get involved with giant Jenga, Connect 4 and other activities.
See how Inntel delivered this multi-location team building event.
Catamaran island escape
Sometimes getting away from the everyday is exactly the point.
For an Ibiza-based incentive programme, our team organised pool parties and a private catamaran experience, giving attendees the opportunity to explore lesser-known parts of the island together.
Discover the Ibiza incentive trip.
Culinary skills and tasting sessions
Food and drink can provide a more relaxed setting for teams to connect.
As part of an incentive trip to Malta, we arranged a pasta-making experience in a picturesque village, followed by a brewery tour and beer tasting.
Read the Malta incentive trip case study.Absolutely. A team building event can support your ESG goals by incorporating volunteering, fundraising, community initiatives, wellbeing or more sustainable choices into the experience.
And bringing people together doesn’t have to mean an expensive activity or elaborate trip. Teams across Inntel regularly take part in organised litter picks in groups of around 10-20 people. As well as supporting our local community, they give colleagues who might not normally work together an opportunity to talk and get to know each other away from their usual roles.
We’ve also combined team building with fundraising through MS-UK’s Big Purple Games, where teams work their way around seven inflatable challenges while raising money for charity.
Volunteering, fundraising and community activities can all be effective ways to combine team connection with your wider ESG objectives.
An inclusive team building event considers physical, sensory and cognitive accessibility so that everyone has a genuine opportunity to participate.
Think beyond physical accessibility when planning your event. Sensory and cognitive accessibility should also be factored into your event design, alongside dietary requirements, alcohol-free options and alternative activities where appropriate.
If you’re not sure where to begin when it comes to inclusive event design, Inntel’s inclusive meetings and events checklist is a useful place to start.
Remember, team building doesn’t have to mean throwing axes or racing dragon boats. Sometimes the right combination of good food, a great venue and thoughtfully planned time together is exactly what a team needs.
From finding the right idea and sourcing the perfect venue to arranging group travel, accommodation, catering and onsite support, Inntel’s Meetings and Events team can take care of the details.
Tell us what you want your people to get out of the experience and we’ll help you create a team building event that brings them together for all the right reasons.