Unique Ideas for Corporate Retreats
By Ellena Wilson
Every corporate retreat needs to have one overarching unifying quality, one that incorporates all your goals into a few words. A Stratos study found that 83% of employees consider corporate travel to be a major perk of their position; it is these perks that keep employee retention. Another study saw 73% reported the ability to travel for work elevated their job satisfaction. A corporate retreat doesn’t just benefit employee retention and satisfaction but also creativity.
The correlation between creativity and company-wide offsites allows employees to disconnect from their screens and bring new ideas, networking tactics or marketing ploys to their company. Corporate retreats also act as a force that breaks down what remote and hybrid work has built up against colleague connections and networking.
When the trend of corporate retreats first arose, the standard team-building activities and locations would suffice. In recent years, there has been a certain apathetic culture of leaving remote and hybrid work to go on these off-site trips, which is why it is of the utmost importance to build a bespoke corporate retreat. Make it as unique as your staff, your company culture and your retreat will blow your expectations out of the water.
The team will leave feeling:
- Connected through their shared experience, socialising out of their office teams
- Valued as they feel truly understood by the bespoke experience you have planned for them. Having invested time and money into the experience, their efforts will be reflected.
- Inspired by unique team-building activities, breakout rooms, and open and honest communication about the company’s goals. The team leave inspired and united about the future goals.
This article will provide locations, activities, culinary experiences and keepsakes that will transform your standard company retreat into the ultimate and unique bespoke experience.
Unique UK Venues
As a UK-based company, we know that not all the extravagant, unique experiences are abroad; some are right at your doorstep. If you’re deciding between a UK or short-haul company retreat with a tighter budget, the money spent on flights, transfers and insurance may be better suited to a better UK-based venue. The UK has much to offer which tends to get overlooked, but with its accessible transport, your branches can travel to a middle point without the stress of renewing passports and flying.
The incredible Osea Island is the perfect place to disconnect from screens and immerse your team in the tranquillity of a private island. Its 550 acres provide all the space you need for all outdoor team-building activities. Hire street food pop-up vans, recommended by the company or enquire about their world-class bar and catering staff.
The tranquil location is perfect to nurture creative growth for your company retreat with many famous artists having rented the whole island for their work like:
- Stormzy, Charli XCX, George Ezra, Rihanna
If you prefer rural to coastal, discover Hidden River Cabins, situated 20 minutes from Carlisle, between the Lake District and Scotland. Hidden River Cabins offer accommodation for up to 116 people, with the cabins spaced out along the River Lyne.
Or a country manor house?
Palé Hall Hotel is the perfect answer to any countryside queries. With 22 rooms and suites all individually styled to encompass luxury, it is the perfect elevated venue. Guided walks around Snowdonia could pair perfectly with some of our unique activities later in this article. If your group is larger and wants single rooms, there are 18 rooms at the main property: Hamps Hall and Barn. Merrymeet is just a 2-minute drive away and has an additional 7 bedrooms.
Whilst this article is UK-based, there are plenty of beautiful European venues that are a short-haul flight away.
European Destinations
- The Workation Village: This venue transcends what is called a castle; you can book the village or even rent parts with your team. The Village has a maze of historic buildings and overlooks the Alps; the Village is very easily accessible to Turin and Milan.
- Schloss Fürstlich Drehna: Situated between Berlin and Dresden, this 14th-century castle offers everything you need to inspire your team. It has 9 meeting rooms and 53 bedrooms. The castle is stacked with equipment that can facilitate your team-building activities – indoor swimming pool, mountain bikes, badminton, and so much more.
- The Cervo Mountain Resort: Explore mountains, culinary expertise, workshops or even the mountain spa. Cervo acts as a beautiful year-round location that offers many different packages.
Alternatively, contact Red Blaze to help you get started, even if it is just venue sourcing, as we do this for free, and the commission comes from the venue, rather than out of your pockets.
The Workation Village
Schloss Furstlich Drehna
The Cervo Mountain Resort
Unique Activities for your Corporate Retreat
Personalise any activity for your company’s retreat itinerary. After a long day of brainstorming, engagement with the retreat’s message will be lost if the enhancements to activities are not bespoke. They must align with most of your team’s interests or age and physical activity. A younger sales group may prefer mountain biking on a tailored trail, whereas another group may enjoy an evening banquet set up like Traitors.
Games inspired by TV shows like Traitors are very popular right now. If your team is on a 3-day corporate retreat, two full days may be dedicated to company planning, meetings or seminars, but in the evenings, a games night is a perfect way to decompress. For example, a Taskmaster-inspired one incorporates fun with quick-thinking problem-solving. Rather than being theoretical activities, they involve using different materials as teams navigate the chaos together.
Taskmaster-inspired prompts:
- “Make this ice block disappear without open flames or hot water.”
- “Without using any stereotypical drawing/painting utensil, create a portrait of *celebrity, manager etc*.
- “Build the tallest structure out of lollipop sticks and marshmallows. It must be able to stand without your assistance. You have 2 minutes, and your timer begins when you say “Marshmallow.”
If your team loves to perform: A Euro-Vision-style song competition. This friendly competition demonstrates cross-cultural appreciation and is a great way to celebrate a multicultural company. If your corporate retreat is bringing together different cross-country branches, then this style of activity can include everyone. Alternatively, if you are a UK based country and have Eurovision fans, implementing a random-country selection is another way to include this activity.
A full-day activity that has been popular is a soapbox derby. Teams join together for a hilarious outdoor activity, but to enhance the experience for ultimate interaction with everyone getting involved, think Mario Kart. Those not driving in the derby can throw plush bananas, red shells and a blue shell if you’re coming in first place! The Mario Kart element is a perfect way to level up your derby.
Eco-friendly Activities
Corporate sustainability commitments can always be maintained during off-site visits. A guided walk through the forest to forage ingredients to bake, cook or paint with, is the perfect way to be mindful within the corporate retreat and allow the company to not only switch off from technology but to connect with each other, and nature.
Being conscious of where your food comes from and how you use it is a great way to raise awareness of little habits to change. A fun way to incorporate this mindfulness and eco-forward thinking is by reaching out to companies like Wonky Veg who use vegetables that are deemed not aesthetic enough for supermarkets, or Riverford, who prioritise ethical farming.
Guided cooking, cocktail-making, or baking classes are always engaging at corporate retreats, but you can add a competitive element to these games by having a MasterChef judge. Your employees must create great food while leaving zero waste. Tasks like these are the perfect way to ensure that everyone leaving your unique corporate retreat is aligned with your company’s values, morals and message.
A CSR Programme?
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities are a great way to connect your team with local communities and give back to those around you. Your CSR programme should reinforce your team’s message, connecting your team back to their company culture and pathing new futures for those around.
Whether your company retreat is in the UK or Europe, here are a few ideas:
- Volunteering your assistance to transform gardens for local communities
- Charity golf day raising funds for a chosen cause
- Overnight walking challenges testing endurance while supporting charities
- Painting schools abroad to leave a lasting mark in local communities
- Virtual & online time pledges for remote teams
- Zip-lining or parachute days with proceeds going to local charities
Unique keepsakes:
With 25+ years in the business, our unique ideas keep our clients returning. Every aspect of your company retreat must be bespoke and tailored to you, so why should keepsakes be any different? Align your keepsakes with the intention of your corporate retreat; think of the ultimate message you want every single person to leave with. Your intention, your keepsake:
If your retreat has been focused on wellness and rejuvenation, consider a recycled cork yoga mat, personalised travel or self-care essentials, or personalised organic food boxes.
A reconnection and realignment retreat to combat hybrid or remote working: consider a pottery day where your team can enjoy a workshop and create their own keepsake that attaches the best memories. Relate it to any other activities; for example, if the itinerary included a pasta-making workshop, create a pasta bowl. Alternatively, a terrarium, personalised plant pots and the chance to select their plant.
If your retreat has been focused on wellness and rejuvenation, consider a recycled cork yoga mat, personalised travel or self-care essentials, or personalised organic food boxes.
A reconnection and realignment retreat to combat hybrid or remote working: consider a pottery day where your team can enjoy a workshop and create their own keepsake that attaches the best memories. Relate it to any other activities; for example, if the itinerary included a pasta-making workshop, create a pasta bowl. Alternatively, a terrarium, personalised plant pots and the chance to select their plant.
If your company retreat was to focus on transformation and future growth, a smart watch is the perfect way to show your company’s dedication to investing in employees. These can be sourced from anywhere between £15 and £300.
At Red Blaze, our personal favourite bespoke touch is to partner with local artists, brands and collaborators near your corporate retreat venue. If your retreat is along a coastal landscape, research local sea-glass artists, jewellery designers or even furniture designers.
Unique keepsakes reinforce the message of your corporate retreat and show dedication to all of your employees, clients and partners. Thoughtful keepsakes that stray from tote bags, water bottles, and pens help to elevate the entire experience. These gifts, whilst appreciated, have probably already been given to your staff, time and time again. These meaningful gift examples serve as a daily reminder to your team of the corporate retreat where the experience brought a strategic shift, broke hybrid working conversation boundaries and harboured a company-wide shared vision for future growth.
Planning the ultimate, unique corporate retreat relies upon your own planning creativity. If your ideas for activities, venues, and locations are not engaging your entire team, the intention behind your retreat will be lost. It’s quintessential to reinforce your intention along every step of the way, as well as your goals, message and intended results. When planning your itinerary for your corporate retreat, remind yourself that downtime and relaxation will be needed for your team to recharge and take everything in. Split your activities across the days of your company retreat and naturally integrate board meetings or strategy planning in between.
Whether you’re planning a ten-person executive summit or a 150-person company-wide retreat, Red Blaze specialises in designing the most unique, unforgettable corporate retreats. We can guarantee planning the venue, location, transport and even bespoke gifting within your budget. With our highly skilled team, you will have your own personal project manager assigned, whether it’s venue sourcing or a 4-day company-wide corporate retreat; Red Blaze has you covered to deliver tailored packages.
