business event

6 Festive Alternatives To An Office Party

Co-workers raising a champagne glass and celebrating in a Christmas decorated room

Every year hundreds of office parties take place, bringing co-workers together to partake in festivities. They are fun and great for team bonding, while allowing you to thank your team for all their hard work throughout the year. However, increasingly large numbers of businesses have shifted away from traditional office spaces, meaning that most businesses no longer have an ‘office’ to hold the party. What’s more, every company is different – be it in size or needs, so it’s important to explore every option, choosing one that is best suited to your team! With Christmas finally underway, we’d like to share with you some of our favourite festive alternatives to the classic office party. 

Potluck dinner – Restaurant outings are fun, and are almost as common as the office party, but can quickly become expensive or booked up. A potluck dinner is a great alternative and a fun twist on a classic – plus it’s cheaper than eating out and allows your team to freely chat over dinner. It also gives your team a chance to show their cooking flair with a signature dish.

Pub quiz – Hosting a pub quiz is a great team activity. It allows you and your employees to share and gain knowledge, and when split into teams it can become a fun, competitive activity. If you’re conscious of going out due to any restrictions or travel factors, “Zoom quizzes” are a great way to socialise remotely. While not quite as atmospheric as a pub quiz, it’s still a fantastic opportunity for quality team time as well as showing off your general (or festive) knowledge.

Team building day – If you have a day to spare this festive season, inviting your team to a team building event is a great way to spend it. The main strength of a team building activity is in the name – it allows your team to bond over some fun group activities! In turn, this leads to breaking down barriers, improved working relationships as well as a more productive team when ‘back on the job’. It is a diverse category, with many activities to choose from such as: escape rooms, board games, arts and crafts workshops, or cooking classes, just to name a few.

Karaoke night – Another twist on a pub night is a karaoke night! You might be able to find a karaoke bar in a larger town or city, but many pubs and bars also host karaoke nights. While it may seem intimidating for some, it’s a tried and tested activity perfect for a casual, festive outing. After all, what’s a better ice breaker than belting out your favourite Christmas tunes?

Ice skating – Ice skating is a great Winter activity for getting your team into the holiday spirit. Skating rinks pop up in many towns during Christmas season, so make the most of them while you can! It’s fun and rewarding and goes perfectly with a steaming cup of hot chocolate after you’re done!

Festive walk – Walks are a natural, cost-effective way for your team to come together and get into the holiday spirit. The UK is home to many stunning parks and areas of natural beauty, so why not wrap up warm and take advantage of them? Keep your eye out for seasonal events – National Trust sites often host winter-themed walks and workshops, perfect for an outing with your team.

While these alternatives are some of our favourites, there isn’t a one size fits all when it comes to these things, so remember to chat with your team and accommodate them as best as you can. We hope this read has been insightful and provides you with some fun ideas to implement this festive season. If you’d like to find our more or require any other business support – we’d love to help! Get in touch:

T: 01903 688789 E: makeithappen@mbsmih.com

12 Days Of Tipmas Day 4: Build A Trusted Network

A network of colourful game pawns connected by straight lines crossing over

The phrase “It’s not what you know, but who you know” is used within many industries and while you may think it’s just a saying, it truly holds up its value when it comes to starting and growing a business. Of course, knowledge and skills are still important, but often the key to successfully running a business is a trusted network. Your connections play an integral part in expanding your brands reach, as well as increasing your visibility- both ultimately resulting in higher sales and a positive cash flow turnout.

So where do you start? It may be the case that your network is very small or you may even be starting from scratch, but not to worry, there are several things which you can do to build up a trusted network, most of which come with zero additional costs. First, remember that the heart of networking lies online. If you haven’t already, set up appropriate social media accounts and begin connecting with old, new, and prospect clients as well as other businesses and owners. Regardless of which industry you’re in- it’s near impossible for a business to thrive in 2022 without the additional visibility from social media. Here is a list of things you can do improve your network:

  • Be social, attend or hold business events
  • Sign up to relevant social media platforms
  • Join social media communities, groups, and lists
  • Take part in local business awards
  • Encourage word of mouth and ask for referrals
  • Deliver fresh and trending content- generating more interest
  • Use your existing testimonials and encourage reviews
  • Team up with other businesses, publish and partake in guest blogs

If you’d like to find out more about the importance of business networking, we would love to help and hear your thoughts. For blog questions, business advice and all other queries, get in touch!

E: makeithappen@mbsmih.com T: 01903 688789.

5 Reasons You Need to Host An Event

A formal event venue with white and blue decorations

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Exposure

Events enable your business to gain brand awareness and exposure by getting your name out there. People will hear about the event which means they will hear about your business. The more interesting the event, the more your company will be recognised.

It can also be an opportunity to get the media involved by getting a mention in the local newspaper, magazine or radio. Promoting your event in the media will ensure you have been seen, heard and noticed in the community – Don’t forget, you can splash it out all over your own Social Media too!

Promotion

What’s a better way of promoting your products/services than at an event! Make it fun, eye-catching and engaging. Everyone always loves a freebie or great offers. Or change it up and do some demonstrations of your products or services; and if you can’t do this with your particular products/services, find different, fun ways to promote what you do and draw people in.

Building Relationships

When holding an event, it’s more fun and engaging (rather than a usual day in the office); which allows your existing and potential customers to interact and engage with your business on a more personal level.

It can also be a chance to make a good impression on potential customers and ensure your business is memorable – make sure they don’t forget you!

Contacts

Events give you the opportunity to increase your network of people; and what’s better than increasing this network than at your own event! Everyone there will be relevant to your business and the industry which will build a stronger and more useful network of people.

Knowing lots of people will come in handy at some point. This is also an opportunity to grow your list of contacts if you have a newsletter or use Social Media – get more followers!

Giving Back

Events can be a nice way to thank your existing customers and supporters for their help and business. Giving away freebies, offers, holding competitions and making it a great event is an easy way to show your gratitude and make your customers and supporters feel appreciated.

Another great idea would be to raise money and awareness for a local charity. You could do something simple like a raffle and ask people to donate items for it. This brings people together and creates a positive image for your company.

Looking for ideas or need support with your event? Send us an email makeithappen@mbsmih.com, we’d love to help.