Article published: July 14th, 2021
CASE STUDY – SKY TV Rewards Experience (90 PAX)
Great team work and team spirit sit at the heart of everything we do here at HDK. Having fun and helping teams to bond and grow together is our mantra. We are fortunate that we love it so much we made a profession of it! Team leaders across companies of all sizes often have too much on their plates and are busy juggling tasks round the clock, so when it comes to planning team activities, we know they appreciate some help… Which is why our one-stop corporate events concierge has become increasingly popular. Here, we look at just one of our happy corporate customers…
BACKGROUND
We were very excited to receive a call from management at Sky who were enquiring into ways to create reward experiences for their incoming call retention team. After an informal chat, we soon understood they wanted a multi-activity occasion that would really pack a punch, and some evening entertainment and accommodation for the 90 or so delegates they planned to invite. It was clear that they would need site exclusivity and were looking for somewhere really special to form the backdrop of the day. It was also clear they were looking for something unforgettable and seamlessly organised, and we were up for the challenge.
With our knowledge of several venues over the south Peak District area we chose a private country estate, as an option that we felt would tick all the boxes. Being in a rural setting can really help wellbeing and creativity and we felt this was a really important element to offer Sky, and their team in particular, who were more used to a call centre environment. Thankfully, they agreed. Some of the activities they were looking for were not available on site, but this certainly didn’t deter us, and after a few phone calls and some intensive planning we were able to source everything that was needed to form the day.
We also found out that the team needed to carry out some specialist computer training in Derby, so we ensured that a coach transfer was booked to collect them from the train station and the training was arranged. Their chosen activities were agreed as quad biking, bubble football, cannon shooting and falconry, and we set about planning every aspect of their two-day schedule of catering, activities and presentations, in addition to their hotel stay, transportation and evening entertainment.
RESULTS
The team arrived at the country estate by mid-morning and were greeted with teas, coffees and locally sourced pastries. With 90 people we had to structure a carousel of activity, splitting them into smaller teams, and it was great to see different departments being mixed up for these activities, giving them all chance to get to
know one another better. Our Event Director was on hand throughout the day to help with co-ordinating and overseeing the activities.
Quad biking is a great adrenaline fuelled activity but does require focus and concentration. We always try to keep everyone in mind with these activities, so we set up a course that offered a degree of challenge but was still super fun. It’s fast paced, takes a certain amount of control and co-ordination and was a great way for everyone to embrace the day.
Bubble football (and yes, we know football is a sore topic for some at the moment) is a brilliantly fun team activity that works a treat at cementing you as a team. And there was so much laughter on the day. The purposely restrictive nature of the bubbles means you really have to concentrate to get those goals in, so it’s a great core skill builder to use once back in the office, and we could see how competitive it became as the match went on.
Cannon shooting is another unusual activity that is becoming increasingly popular for team activities. Not only do teams have to take charge of setting off the cannons but they need to discuss and work out trajectories for hitting the given targets, so the strategic planning, communication, critical thinking and togetherness here really shine through.
Lastly, the falconry experience with our specialist falconer proved extremely popular. With up to 20 different falcons, hawks and owls, it was a fully interactive experience that gave the team chance to handle and fly the birds. This is an activity that requires a certain amount of patience and understanding of the situation and pace required to complete a task, all things that are transferable to work situations. We saw how the country setting and the presence of the birds had quite a soothing and yet uplifting effect on everyone, too.
We also made sure that the team enjoyed some delicious food and drinks in the form of luxury buffet on the country estate. It was the perfect way to round off the activities, and of course it could only end with a celebratory prize giving ceremony. We sourced trophies and prizes to make sure that everyone felt special and had something to take back from the day, other than the incredible memories they had all built with one another.
The team of course were then ready for an evening of fun, so we sourced them a local four-star hotel and arranged use of the spa facilities for them free of charge. It was a touch they appreciated and gave them chance to unwind and prepare for the evening ahead. A sit-down meal and entertainment then finished the event off rather nicely, all organised by us.
SO, WHAT DID THEY THINK…?
“I first used HDK a few years ago for some friends and I to go clay pigeon shooting. We also booked a fantastic cottage. At the time, we all came away thoroughly impressed by the service and attention to detail Greg and his team offered. I honestly haven’t had such a level of service since I worked in the USA. It was truly a brilliant and fun weekend.
“I recently contacted HDK to see if they could organise a team building event for my company. I won’t mention names, but I work for a top 30 ftse company and expectations from certain senior leaders are high for this type of away day.
“Needless to say, Greg and his team were excellent. The activities, food and accommodation were spot on. Everyone had a superb time and I have received glowing feedback from all the team that attended. We had over 90 people from around the world attend this event and I have had not one bit of negative feedback. It’s impossible to please everyone but HDK seemed to have ticked all the boxes!
“I would thoroughly recommend this company. The personal, fun and efficient service delivered was much more than we ever expected. I will definitely use them again for our next team building event in December. Value for money all the way.
Well done HDK, it’s good to know that companies like you exist in the UK. Thank you for such a good time. Well done, keep up the great work.”
CONTACT US
If you are a HR Manager or team leader tasked with finding some inspired ways to bring your team together, then drop us a line. We’d love to help you with a bespoke, all-encompassing solution… Contact Us
You can check out our range of corporate activities here: Activities