Top three Team Building events in Oxford

Hidden Quest Treasure Hunt in Oxford

As with other towns and cities, Oxford is a superb setting for our Hidden Quest Treasure Hunt. This is a Treasure Hunt, enhanced by the detail and interesting content that we cram into it. Did you know that various scenes in the Harry Potter films were filmed in Oxford? Part of The Bodleian Library was used as Hogwart’s library, and The Divinity School was the setting for Hogwart’s Infirmary. The Great Hall of Christ Church College was the inspiration for The Great Hall at Hpgwart’s. Oxford has been used as the setting for many films, and this gives you an idea of why it is such a great location for a team building event.

Parmesan Job in Oxford

The Parmesan Job is our very exciting themed event based on the famous film of a similar name. This event is an enhanced Treasure Hunt with a script, costumed characters and a grand finale involving van doors and pyrotechnics – you know the idea! We are putting this event in the Oxford top three because a scene in the 1969 film was actually filmed in Oxford. Keble College is the setting of the fictional “Ministry of Transport” where Charlie Croker, played by Michael Caine, visits Professor Peach, played by Bennie Hill. So, there you have it, and not a lot of people know that! Caroline at Site Electrics sent us the following feedback; ‘Everyone had a really great time and the feedback has been so positive. It was the first time we have ever done anything team building related. It was so successful and so enjoyed by everyone that it is already on the list of things we have to do on the next weekend away’.

Film Making in Oxford

Several films have already been mentioned in our focus on Oxford, but there are more. This is why our hugely entertaining Film Making team building event features in our top three list. Other examples of films part filmed in Oxford include the 2010 Alice in Wonderland and The Golden Compass. Sanctuary booked a Film Making team building event with us. This was their experience; 
‘we are still recovering from laughing so much after the films were shown on Wednesday evening.  The way in which your team took control of 75+ petrified people and turned them into 10 teams of fun-loving actors was superb.  Everyone loved the way in which your team managed the 4 hours, were on hand to help, provide ideas and technical support as well as really getting into the spirit of what we were trying to achieve. We showed the films to the teams, plus the CEO and Chairperson who were all in stitches of laughter which carried on into the next day as well, so your team definitely lived up to your company’s name!

 

 

Outdoor Team Building Events in Oxford

Many things come to mind when considering the unique character of Oxford. Punting, Gothic and Gothic Revival architecture, Medieval architecture, castles and vaults. Expect a Treasure hunt to include plenty of these, as well as the occasional gargoyle! There is more to consider, though, when it comes to team building event choices. Country Sports may be the right choice for your team. This category includes Laser Clay Shooting, Quad Bikes and Archery. The University of Oxford has one of the oldest archery clubs in the UK, the Oxford University Company of Archers.  You may not be of a standard to compete with them, but the area has form when it comes to toxophily. Freja Artby booked this activity; ‘The Team Building Company came to our team meeting, and set up garden games and archery. It was a big hit - all 20 participants had fun, and no one was bored while waiting for their turn in archery. The booking process was so fast and easy. Everything went completely to plan. ‘

Indoor Team Building Events in Oxford

Oxfordshire is part of the UK’s “Motorsport Valley”, a hub of motorsport engineering and innovation, and home to many F1 teams and related businesses. Williams Racing. Red Bull and the Renault F1 Team , now the Alpine F1 Team. Our F1 Challenge could be just the event for your team. Your team starts with a pre-built chassis as the car's foundation. Design and brand the bodywork to earn points for creativity while staying within legal specifications to avoid disqualification. Formula 1 involves more than just cars; you'll need to design a team brand, create team hats, overalls, and car livery featuring your logo and sponsors' names after presenting your theme to our moderators. Finally, cars race head-to-head down the track into the pits, where your pit crew swiftly changes the tyres before charging back to the starting line. Pippa Boddy booked this team building event; ‘ I booked the Team Building Company for a business off-site. Before the day they were super helpful and organised - contacting our venue off their own back and making sure everything was in place. We did the F1 Challenge and all of our staff had an amazing time.’ 

Evening Team Building Events in Oxford

One of the most famous TV shows associated with Oxford is, of course, Inspector Morse, with its spin-offs Lewis and Endeavour. The Oxford Murders, a film about a professor and a grad student working together to solve a series of murders apparently linked by mathematical symbols, was a 2008 thriller set in Oxford starring Elijah Wood and John Hurt. We have a wide variety of evening event options, but our Murder Mysteries always go down well and are well suited to Oxford’s gothic venues. We were delighted to read Diane Eldridge’s testimonial; ‘We love the Team Building Company.  We have used them before to hold a Crystal Challenge event.  Yesterday we had a Murder Mystery afternoon event, and once again The Team Building Company didn't disappoint us.  The actors were amazing and so funny.  Everyone got involved and our company absolutely loved it!   Well done to you all.  A very customer-centric team building company’. You can enhance this event with very funny “witness statements” read by members of your team, which are written to include things which they are known for in the company. The in jokes often get the biggest laughs, and we can help you to include them.

Icebreaker Team Building Events in Oxford

The purpose of an Icebreaker activity is to aid social mixing at the beginning of an event. Typically shorter than the usual team building event, icebreakers are high energy and should leave people smiling. They are also used to boost energy after food, replacing the renowned “graveyard slot” with something to stimulate the mind and body. The Ashmolean Museum in Oxford has hosted exhibitions featuring Leonardo da Vinci's works, drawing connections between the Renaissance genius and the academic community in Oxford. Perhaps a creative event like Egg Toss would be ideal for your group, although we are not entirely sure whether da Vinci ever built such a device! We have various options connected to music, or rather to making noise. Drumming Energiser, Boombastic and Funky Junk are examples of these events. Specsavers chose this event for their conference, and the organiser Ellie sent us this feedback; ‘Everyone LOVED the team build! A few were a bit hesitant at the start but pretty much straight away everyone was fully into it. Adam was great at getting the crowd going and fully made the experience’. It is our instructors who will make an icebreaker work for you, with their commitment, expertise and energy.

Company Fun Days in Oxford

Fun days are usually large events and often the families of employees are invited. We can help you to find a perfect location, with such essentials as good parking and easy access. We dress the field with marquees, bunting and colourful banners. A PA system is brought along and we can provide a high-energy Master of Ceremonies, although most companies have no shortage of people who can fill this role. Music is played, delicious catering is laid on, often a barbecue, and we provide some of our very popular activities and games. Archery, Laser Clay Shooting and Axe Throwing are popular choices. We have a range of purpose made inflatable games that are unusual and always enjoyed in a light-hearted competition format. Fiona at The Shell Foundation sent us this feedback after her Fun Day; ‘the afternoon games were excellent and everyone loved them. I was surprised at how much everyone loved the Human Table Football – even just watching it was fun. Loads of people loved the ski event best. However, all the events were run really well and really connected the team and made them work together In between laughs and chats. It was a perfect day.’

Company Away Days in Oxford

A company Away Day is nothing more complicated than a day away from the usual working environment. It can be transformative to working relationships to spend time with colleagues without the demands of the office impacting on a relationship. To take part in fun activities in a different and enjoyable environment really can make a difference. Gill Ormsby at Kallo Foods had this to say after her Company Away day; ‘I used the Team Building Company for our Company Day yesterday. The team has been absolutely fantastic right from the word go. Tom and Sally were both really helpful in working with me to get exactly the right feel for the event and on the day the team handling the actual event were really great too. This meant that the attendees were engaged and had a great time, which is what it's all about! As the organiser it makes my job so much easier when you know you have a good events team to rely on. Ten out of ten and I will definitely be using them again!’ Oxford has many locations that can be used for such a day, and it is easily accessible from many locations including London.

Company Team Building in Oxford

Oxford is a great location for a team building event with hotels, land for activities, and a plethora of unique features.  Andy King from Omexcom chose a Perfect Team Building Event and sent us this lovely message; ‘I have worked in the High Voltage Cabling Construction industry for 23 years and have attended a number of team building days over the years. Hand on heart I can honestly say that it was the best I have ever participated in. A number of these days in the past, shall we say, have drained my soul (literally), looking at my watch every 10 minutes hoping the fire alarm would go off and I could do one in my car and head back up North. Thursday’s was the complete opposite, every time I looked around at the other groups there was laughter and big daft smiles on all those who participated. My only issue is how the hell is Fiona going to top that?!’ We were very pleased to receive this honest appraisal. We spend a lot of time each year, out of the main season, developing new activities and refreshing existing offerings. We aim to provide events that work for team building but, crucially, are fun and engaging.

Company Team Building Events in Oxford

In 2019 there was a viral video showing a man called David Johnstone, knows as ‘The Oxford Shepherd”, herding ducks through the city streets using a sheepdog. The event was part of the promotion for The Oxford Summer Festival. We cannot arrange this for you, it is bound to be in violation of some sort of traffic law, but we can arrange duck herding in a pleasant field in Oxford. It is one of the events in our Country Sports offering. People often leave considering getting themselves a pet duck! Ducks are not the only thing that we are helping to sell, as this feedback from Fticonsulting shows; ‘It was brilliant! We all had such a good time, and who knew I would love Segway.  I’m usually really nervous with stuff that needs coordination and balance, but I really enjoyed it. I might have to get myself one!’ No event is too large for us to be involved with, and we often entertain hundreds of participants. Karan Patel had a large event; we have used The Team Building Company for two successive years for corporate events, catering to over 150 people. The activities on offer, organisation and professionalism of the team are excellent. I would highly recommend using them’.

Competitive Team Building Events in Oxford

When you think of competitive sport in Oxford the Oxford-Cambridge Boat Race comes to mind. The 200th boat race will take place in 2029, and that is sure to be a great occasion. Healthy competition can be extremely important in a work team. Our team building events foster a manageable level of competition, and we award winners with medals that people love, but not so much that those who do not win one feel bad. WCS Consult shared this insight about their event; ‘Please would you pass my thanks on to the team for yesterday's treasure hunt.  It always amuses me how competitive people become, and it's always the quiet ones!’ One of the benefits of a team building day is that you get to know colleagues away from the work environment. We often hear someone talk about seeing a different side to people that they knew only at the office. Any of our events has a competitive element, but one that really comes to mind is It’s A Knockout. You may remember the cult TV show. We have a variety of giant inflatable games to recreate this high-energy mayhem for your event, and this particular event is both competitive and hilarious!

Creative Team Building Events in Oxford

Some of the creative talents who came from Oxford include J.R.R.Tolkien, C.S.Lewis and Lewis Carroll. Did the dreaming spires and gothic architecture of this unique city inspire them in their great works? Perhaps you need to hold a creative team building event for your team, to get their mind working on creation and problem-solving . Bradford University opted for The Rollercoaster Challenge and a Crime Scene Investigation; ‘Please would you pass on my thanks to both James and Ryan, and for their energy and enthusiasm on the day. We had a really good day, and the activities worked well for us.  We have received lots of positive feedback from the delegates, even from those who have told me how much they have disliked team building in the past.  The activities were great for morale and the rollercoaster in particular generated a lot of energy, and showed the wider team what they could achieve together in such a short space of time.’ The generation of energy and demonstration of what can be achieved in a short time really does strike at the heart of what drives creativity; energy and belief. When team building events have clear objectives the results can be powerful.

Charity Team Building Events in Oxford

Various charities and non-profits encourage corporate clients to join them in Charity Team Building Events. We work with these organisations to plan a day where the project is clearly defined, all essential materials are on hand, and catering is arranged. We manage health and safety protocols, including risk assessments, and coordinate any insurance requirements with you. Projects typically involve practical tasks, like constructing sensory gardens, or preparing creative spaces for activities. Each program is customised, promoting both teamwork and community involvement. Participating in these events gives employees a sense of purpose and achievement, strengthening their community ties and showcasing the company’s dedication to social responsibility. Whatever the chosen program, we ensure it is suitable for the participants and meets all necessary criteria, making the experience both enjoyable and impactful.  We will take photos of the day’s progress, including before and after shots, and this is important for the long-term benefit of such a day. Pauline from Frontier Economics sent this feedback; ‘many thanks for sharing the photos and thank you so much to you and the team for the team building event yesterday. It was great fun and it really allowed people to get to know each other better’.