Top three Team Building events in Reading
iPad Movie Making
Reading has been the setting for many iconic films and TV series, and so we are recommending iPad Move Making as a top three event choice for this area. The hit series Killing Eve used Reading Prison to double up for a Russian prison in Series 1. The King’s Speech was also filmed nearby, at Englefield House. There is plenty of history in the area to make the filming of your own epic movie a good event choice. Abbey at Bowmark Capital sent us this feedback: ‘Just wanted to drop a note to say thank you to you and the team for our event on Friday. The feedback so far has been fantastic, and your team handled our group very well!’ We provide iPads, with an expert to help teams get the most out of their filming, costumes and props. You create a film and then we play them to everyone at the end of the event or over dinner. The results are usually surprisingly good, and always hilarious. The outtakes alone will be fantastic entertainment!
Ready, Steady Bake!
If you want an indoor event then you may want to consider our baking challenge. The Huntley & Palmer factory in Reading was once the largest biscuit manufacturer in the world. We provide all of the equipment required with a mobile bakery for each team, and plenty of delicious ingredients. Sadly the Huntley & Palmer factory has now closed, but in an interesting link to film making the children’s gangster film Bugsy Malone was filmed in the old factory. Baking is not the only sweet food based team building event. Our Chocolate Making is very popular, and can be run from a number of Reading venues. We provide all of the equipment needed to create delicious chocolate treats. These are the luxury truffle style chocolates, and they can include liqueur centres, which are always particularly popular at Christmas.
Sarah from MetLife sent us this feedback following her successful event; ‘Thank you so much for both events, particularly the Ready Steady Bake which was absolutely brilliant. Kiera and Dan were amazing and everyone said it was the best incentive activity they had ever done.'
Drumming Team Build
This interesting town is famous for The Reading Festival, among other things. So, why not consider one of our team building events from the music and rhythm section. Our drumming workshop is a true team building activity in which everyone comes together to create a co-ordinated beat from individual bongo drums. Beating boots has a similar goal, but instead of drums you use wellie boots! The Haka Workshop is musical in a sense. Our experienced Maoris, in full tribal makeup, will teach you this powerful dance in an event that is bound to energise the whole team.
Outdoor Team Building Events in Reading
Team building events that can be enjoyed outdoors are a large part of our event offering, and the beautiful countryside around Reading is perfect for these events. This category includes Country Sports, which is the first type of event that we started out with in 1989. In this category are such activities as Archery, Laser Clay Shooting, Segways and Duck Herding. Our Treasure Hunt, and our themed hunt based events such as The Parmesan Job, Cyber Heist and Taken, also fall into this category. Our Crystal Challenge event, named after the Crystal Maze TV show, is one of our best sellers and works well in Reading. Teams take part in a series of purpose built challenges to earn crystals in a friendly competition. Sometimes events are a surprise for the participants, as this feedback from Vicky Harrison mentions: ‘We had a team building event planned and had kept this a secret from all the participants. The surprise was really well received and they have had nothing but positive things to say about the team. We even had them joining in to make up numbers. We would definitely recommend them to anyone who is looking to have an amazing day.’ With such enjoyable events the surprise is always a nice one!
Indoor Team Building Events in Reading
When a team building event needs to be indoors we have a great range of activities to choose from, and a host of Reading venues to consider. All of these are purpose built, rather than simply an outdoor event brought indoors. Our Crime Scene Investigation event is very popular. Your group will investigate a murder, with a crime scene and two suspects who must be cross–examined. The aim is to find out exactly what happened by relying on forensic evidence, for example fingerprints and a test on blood found at the crime scene. Nikki Divers chose a CSI theme for her team building event; ‘We were a mixed group of men and women and four nationalities, and still the team manged to involve everyone in a really interesting thought provoking challenge. The acting was excellent, the leadership was timely and helpful without us having to worry about it, and everyone had a really good afternoon that helped build team spirit and was discussed for the next 24 hours!’ This is just one example of the indoor team building events that we can offer in Reading. Other options include our Indoor Crystal Challenge. With this event we have created a range of purpose built activities which look fantastic when set up in a conference room, a venue/hotel in Reading, or even in an office space.
Evening Team Building Events in Reading
Our evening team building events combine engaging and well-presented activities with charismatic and energising presenters. Options include Casino Nights with casino quality tables and croupiers. We can help you to make this event really special with themed decoration and little touches like your own printed banknotes with a photo of someone from your company on them where the monarch would usually be. Julie from ghSMART UK sent us this feedback after her evening event: ‘it was amazing – thank you. Chris and his colleague were amazing. There was lots of laughter and everyone thoroughly enjoyed it and were talking about it all evening.’ Our Murder Mystery evenings really go well over dinner. We use professional actors and well written scripts that are entertaining and cause a lot of laughter without being corny, which some people worry about. We have a hose of Reading based venues in which you could choose to run this event from. Ife from Vantagepoint booked a Murder Mystery and sent us this message afterwards; ‘The event was a success thanks! The team not only really enjoyed it but also really got into it (I think they quite liked getting the chance to moonlight as actors).’ Give us a call to discuss the options and we will help you to select the best evening team building event for your team.
Icebreaker Team Building Events in Reading
Icebreaker events are high energy and often short events that are timed at a strategic point in a conference. They may be used to break the ice at the start of an event, or energise a group after lunch. We have a great selection of these events to suit any team. It is a little known fact that Brian Adams spent the summer of 1969 in Reading, and he lived in the town for several years. Given this link with this iconic song a musical challenge may be the perfect icebreaker for your team. Why not have a look at Perfect Harmony, an event which sees your team performing in perfect harmony as a choir? Other options include a Drumming Icebreaker, a quick and highly energetic version of our longer event, and Clappity-Clap in which teams make music with their hands while wearing washing up gloves. You could also choose a fast-paced Treasure Hunt around the grounds of your conference location in Reading. Deborah from West and Wales Utilities chose Rollercoaster, and said this afterwards; ‘It all went very smoothly – we were very happy with it. Our winning team insisted on wearing their medals all day!’ Call us to discuss your Icebreaker Team Building event requirements.
Company Fun Days in Reading
The Company Fun Day is a special event set in a large outdoor area in Reading, offering a blend of activities like Country Sports, inflatable games, and perhaps an It’s A Knockout competition. We can also provide entertainment to engage children, making it an excellent choice for events where employees' families are invited. Typically, a Company Fun Day features a public address system for announcements and music, a picnic or barbecue, and occasionally an ice cream van. Fun competitions can be run through the day. Corelogic had feedback about the fun that they experienced with us; ‘We honestly had the absolute best time! You guys totally smashed it with the variety of activities that definitely brought out the competitive spirit in us. Everybody kept saying how much fun they had and that the instructors were a great laugh and made everybody feel so welcome, so a massive thank you!’ We can help you to find the ideal location for your company fun day, and we will assist you in choosing a programme that will have something to appeal to everyone in your company. We also help with professional risk assessments and any other administration required to make a success of your day.
Company Away Days in Reading
Sometimes it is a good idea to take everyone away from the office for a day and to have an enjoyable and positive experience in a great location. Nothing refreshes relationships more than a change of scenery. We can help you to arrange transport and select the best activities for your company to experience. Reading is a great location for an away day because it has excellent transport links and some superb venues which can be used as a base and, of course, provide the all- important catering. Longhurst Group had an Away Day and sent us this note of thanks afterwards; ‘We just wanted to say a huge thank you to Aidan and the rest of the team who looked after us so well on Friday. We had a brilliant day and have received numerous comments from other colleagues that this was our best Away Day event to date. It was so much fun for the young, and even not so young amongst us. The weather was perfect for the activities and everyone spent the whole afternoon laughing. The Human Table Football at the end was especially hilarious fun. We will be talking about the day for a long time to come.’
Company Team Building in Reading
Reading is an area where most of our activities are possible and it offers a variety of excellent hotels and venues to choose from. Amanda Papworth gave a detailed overview of her event in her feedback; ‘We completed the outdoor Crystal Maze Challenge which consisted of four challenges with for teams of five people, for our team building activity. It was a lot of fun and thoroughly enjoyed by all involved and a great end to a long day. The Team Building on site team that coordinated us on the day, especially Victoria, were very friendly, helpful and very accommodating with the delay of starting. Becky who co-ordinated the venue and events was very organised and helpful up to the date with an excellent choice of local venues that could accommodate. We will definitely consider using you again and would consider the more adrenaline motor sports!’ OSB went for an indoor event, Crime Scene Investigation; ‘The event went really well. Very smooth process. James had all under control and created an engaging environment for the guys to interact with. The actors were very convincing as well, so all in all a great success.’ Our team of experts will point you in the right direction for company team building.
Competitive Team Building Events in Reading
Unhealthy competition can be a problem in the workplace, but appropriate competition will have a more positive effect. Our team building events have just the right amount of friendly competition, and the medals that winners love to receive are a fun token award but not so valuable that those who do not get one will be upset. Hertfordshire NHS Trust wanted an element of competition in their event, and sent us this post event assessment; ‘Thanks for the interactive session, it was competitive and fun, there was an activity for all to engage in and the team was very helpful in clarifying /explaining the instruction. All the doctors had great fun.’ All events have a competitive element, and we can play this up or play it down to suit your objectives. One event that is very competitive is It’s A Knockout, and you may remember the madcap antics of the original TV show that the event is based on. We can run this with a professional presenter on a public address system to ensure that competition is encouraged. Sarah from Gazprom sent us this assessment; ‘They loved it, even the three colleagues who flew over from Singapore - despite them coming from 30+ degrees!’
Creative Team Building Events in Reading
One of the most famous residents of Reading is Michael Bond, creator of the much loved Paddington Bear. It was growing up in Reading that he developed his love of trains and train stations. Creativity can come from the strangest of inspiration! Could you create a character as lovable as Paddington with our Animaniacs event? We provide a blue screen and an IPad with software that will enable you to create a short animated film using Stop Motion and modelling clay. We have seen clients creating some truly memorable characters and stories. Often clients become quite attached to their creations, and so we provide boxes so they can be taken back to the office and put proudly on display! Our cooking events, for example Cuisine Team Cooking, are also popular with teams wanting a creative team building experience. Hopefully you will not suffer the same fate as King Henry though, famous for being the son of William the Conqueror and for dying after eating lampreys. He is buried at Reading Abbey. If you have a moment look up lampreys online; why he wanted to eat one of them is anyone’s guess! Call us to discuss your event, and what we can offer in the creative team building bracket.
Charity Team Building Events in Reading
Reading has many charities that will work with corporate clients in Charity Team Building projects. We work with a suitable organisation, chosen to fit with your corporate social responsibility objectives, and create a project with all equipment provided, as well as experts who can guide your teams through such projects as creating sensory gardens, erecting enclosures for animal charities, or a fund raising challenge built into a The Apprentice style format with our The Rookie event. This is one of the easiest ways to organise a Charity Team Building event. Teams head off into the streets of Reading with a budget and a selection of items that must be found. Any money not spent will be given to charity, so teams need to use their negotiation skills, sometimes getting hold of items at no cost at all. This format offers an enjoyable and fast-paced team building event with a charity element included. The Carbon Trust had a day of fun experiences with us which gave them plenty of stories to tell afterwards; ‘Thank you Sally, we really enjoyed the event thank you so much for organising- heard lots of positive feedback at the pub afterwards and everyone had a lot of fun!’
