This year we’ve seen a tangible rise in the popularity of
corporates moving their events outside or incorporating an outdoors element
into their conferences, explains Katie Whitby, regional sales director at The
Venues Collection.
Employees now crave a relaxed event that is in keeping with
the flexible and comfortable approach they have towards the working environment
post Covid.
Just as dress codes, working schedules and meeting formats
and have been relaxed, employees are keen to have a more informal company
meeting. This shift towards informality suits using an outdoor event space, and
this informal approach should be incorporated into every aspect of outdoor
event planning, from the way food is served to the delegate activities.
Outdoor events are preferred by companies who are conscience
of the health and wellbeing of their teams; with a newfound emphasis on
holistic well-being, event menus have been reimagined to accommodate a diverse
range of dietary preferences and nutritional needs, whilst still being as
sustainable as possible.
From hearty BBQ fare to lighter, more health-conscious
options, such as plant first options and desserts made without dairy, the focus
is on inclusivity and catering to the evolving tastes of a health-conscious
workforce. Relaxed food options pair perfectly with outdoor events; they suit
the spontaneity of ‘grab and go’ food chosen from street food vans or BBQs.
Delegates want to choose food they can eat at their leisure
over the course of the event without having to keep to a strict timetable. With
most outdoor events, there will be an element of teambuilding incorporated into
the day.
Martin Stephens, director of Off Limits says they are seeing
an increase in the influence of TV shows, with Task Masker and Traitors themed
activities becoming popular. “These shows are topical, fun and engaging, so
they fit perfectly with the teambuilding ethos.”
Martin also highlights that most corporates are now risk
adverse so many traditional driving activities have fallen out of favour. When
choosing activities, it is worth remembering that inclusivity is key. Not
everyone is sporty; we are seeing a rise in popularity of craft sessions and
treasure hunts offering more inclusive alternatives to the traditional physical
or sporty options. Deciding when to include a team build is also important.
“Having a team build at the beginning of an event will act
as an ice breaker – this is especially important for new teams or those working
remotely,” added Martin. “It’s really helpful for disparate teams to be
connected from the very beginning of an event to ensure they get the most out
of the day; and having an opening session as an ice breaker can also really
help take any nervousness away from the company MD who will inevitably present
the welcome address.”
We have found that the type of company that chooses to go
outdoors are often from the more ‘conservative’ type of sector; those operating
in the finance, logistics, pharmaceutical and insurance industries. But I can
only speculate on why; perhaps they are keen to shed their stuffy image; or
perhaps their professional workforce is keener to relax and enjoy the outdoors?
Either way, the winds of change are blowing and companies
are embracing the relaxed vibe of outdoor events as an opportunity to create
team cohesion and employee engagement. Internal The outdoor event format is
fairly compact. We are seeing a rise in two distinct formats: a morning meeting
with an afternoon team building activity; or a lunchtime start, followed by an
afternoon activity/team build and an evening dinner and overnight stay.
