With the New Year fast approaching, it’s the perfect moment to revitalise your team, realign your business goals and boost company morale! Why not get ahead while you can and start planning an unforgettable company offsite for 2025.
Unsure on where to start? Look no further! With over a decade of experience, Story Events have successfully executed countless client away-days that foster collaboration, strengthen relationships and make memories to last a lifetime (check out some of the stories we’ve told for our clients). Our knowledgeable team have pulled together our ‘top tips’ on how to plan the perfect company offsite for 2025 ensuring that we turn the daunting task of organising a company-wide event a little more manageable and fun.
FIND THE RIGHT VENUE
Finding the perfect venue in your ideal location can be challenging, but it is the key to the success of your event. Whether it’s a tranquil retreat in the countryside or a modern conference centre in the city, your venue must facilitate your agenda, activities and overall objectives. Some important things to consider:
Location: How far do you want guests to travel? This will help narrow down your venue search.
Capacities: Determine what bedroom capacity you need, you’ll need to comfortably house all your guests, especially if your event spans multiple days. Twin bedrooms are always a great way to maximise a venue’s capacity!
Setting and Backdrop: Think about the atmosphere you want to create. Whether you prefer a cozy, home-from-home feel or a more corporate environment, ensure the venue aligns with your offsite objectives. Consider factors like outdoor spaces, views and the overall aesthetic. One of our top tips is to prioritise the venues that offer meeting rooms with natural daylight – this creates a more inviting and energising atmosphere.
Catering: Assess the catering options available, including menu choices, dietary accommodations and the dining experience you wish to create.
Wet Weather Contingencies: Plan for the unexpected by ensuring there are backup options for outdoor activities.
Some of our favourite offsite venues include Osea Island, offering a stunning and secluded retreat on your very own private island just off the coast of Essex. Less than an hour from central London, this truly unique venue is one for your guests will remember. The Fairmont Windsor combines luxury with a historical picturesque setting. Sat on 40 acres of English countryside this venue is perfect for offsites with a focus on wellness and reconnecting with nature. Last but not least, if you are open to travelling a little further afield, Celtic Manor is the perfect escape, boasting unparalleled views, versatile spaces and an abundance of exciting activities available on site.
ENSURE YOUR OFFSITE ALIGNS WITH YOUR COMPANY CULTURE:
It’s essential to start by understanding the objectives of the event and incorporating activities that reflect these goals. Establishing a theme to enhance storytelling and guide the guest journey is a great way to create a more immersive experience. Some popular tried and tested themes are Wellness, Sustainability and Connection. Additionally, it is important to ensure that all your content aligns with your key messaging and adheres to your brand guidelines, take sustainability as an example; choose a venue and activities that support your sustainability policies, reinforcing your commitment to environmental responsibility.
STRUCTURE YOUR EVENT EFFECTIVELY
Finding the right balance between fun and informative is the key to planning a company offsite. This can be achieved by combining content-rich sessions with engaging activities, ensuring delegates leave with both meaningful insights and memorable experiences. Start with inspiring keynotes to set the tone, followed by internal committee lead sessions that facilitate knowledge sharing and empower session leaders to actively contribute. Incorporate team-building activities throughout that foster collaboration and make the overall event memorable for guests – think less business, more fun! Some of our favourite offsite activities include; team sports, cooking classes, sound baths and of course any sort of craft!
Additionally, consider inviting external speakers to provide fresh perspectives and enhance the overall learning experience. Lastly, think about incorporating evening events such as: gala dinners, informal standing receptions or award dinners. This is the perfect chance for teams to let their hair down and celebrate all you have achieved together. By thoughtfully blending these elements, you can create a dynamic and impactful offsite.
Ready to make your 2025 offsite unforgettable? Let Story Events help you create an extraordinary experience that your team will cherish forever. Contact us today via the website or give us a call on 0207 870 9303.
