It's no secret that the best teams don't just work together well. They actually like working together. And that doesn't happen by accident. It takes deliberate investment in the moments that bring people closer: shared experiences, genuine recognition and time spent away from the day job.
With flexible and distributed working now the norm across most industries, those in-person moments carry even more weight. Your team might collaborate brilliantly on Slack, but trust, loyalty and the kind of camaraderie that keeps people around are built face to face. Here at Hire Space, we've helped thousands of HR professionals deliver events that genuinely engage their teams, from team-building socials to awards ceremonies that recognise outstanding work.
Here's how to create experiences your team will actually want to turn up for.
What are the benefits of team experiences?
Attracting and retaining talent
In a competitive hiring market, companies are only as good as their reputation. Your team talks, and what they say about your culture matters more than any job ad. Invest in experiences that make people feel valued and you'll build a workplace that attracts talent and keeps it. The difference between a team that stays and one that drifts is often as simple as whether people feel like they belong.
Encouraging team collaboration
Strong teams don't form in group chats. They form when people spend time together without an agenda. Regular socials, whether a Friday afternoon get-together or a full day out of the office, give colleagues the chance to connect beyond their project roles. The payoff is real: teams that genuinely know each other communicate better, collaborate faster and are far more willing to help each other out when it counts.
Investing in learning and development
Team experiences don't have to be purely social. Some of the most effective ones involve learning something new together. Hackathons, skill-share sessions, creative workshops and external speakers all give people a chance to grow while strengthening team bonds. When your team sees that you care about their development as individuals, loyalty follows.
What kinds of events should companies implement?
Every company is different, and the right mix depends on your team size, culture and budget. But the principle is the same: your people are your biggest asset, and investing in how they feel about work is investing in the business. You don't need to do everything below, but building at least a few of these into your annual calendar will pay dividends.
If you'd like support planning any of these, our event experts are on hand to help, so don't hesitate to get in touch.
Team-building socials
The phrase "team-building" still makes some people groan, but that's a hangover from trust falls and tangled ropes. The best modern team-building is built around novel shared experiences that give people something to talk about long after the event.
In-person experiences
- Scavenger hunts: Get everyone moving and problem-solving together. Urban exploration challenges work brilliantly for city-based teams and naturally encourage collaboration.
- Team games: Interactive games break the ice faster than any structured networking. For summer events, giant garden games keep the energy high without feeling forced.
- Sports or physical challenges: A 5k park run, a climbing wall session or a yoga class in the park. Physical activities create shared memories and give people a genuine sense of achievement together.
- Wellbeing sessions: Give your team permission to slow down. An aromatherapy workshop, sound bath or group pilates session shows you care about wellbeing beyond a line in the handbook.
Virtual and hybrid experiences
Not every team can get together in one place, and virtual experiences have come a long way from awkward Zoom quizzes. The best ones give people a shared activity to focus on rather than putting the pressure on conversation.
- Escape rooms: Online escape rooms work surprisingly well for distributed teams. The time pressure and shared problem-solving create genuine camaraderie.
- Trivia nights: Classic for a reason. Tailor the quiz to your team's interests and you'll see people come alive. Decades quizzes and niche-topic rounds tend to get the biggest reactions.
- Cooking classes: A virtual cook-along lets everyone participate from their own kitchen. It's relaxed, social and people leave with a new recipe. Hard to beat.
Have a browse of our top virtual events to keep everyone engaged below:
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Away days and retreats
Away days are where culture is built. Getting the team out of the office and into a different environment changes the dynamic completely. But making the day genuinely memorable takes thought. Here's what works:
- Keep work sessions focused but flexible: Concise, high-energy content sessions hold attention far better than drawn-out presentations. Build in time for your team to explore what interests them. Some of the best away day moments come from unplanned conversations.
- Mix work and play: If your away day involves any work content, break it up with activities that shift the energy. A yoga session between strategy sessions, a creative challenge after lunch or a surprise guest speaker all prevent the day from feeling like a meeting in a nicer room.
- Have surprises up your sleeve: The unexpected is what people remember. A professional casino night after the formal programme, an unannounced comedian or even just a well-timed ice cream van can turn a good day into a great one.
- Choose a venue that does the heavy lifting: The space you pick sets the tone for the entire day. Avoid anywhere too corporate. Sometimes the most memorable away days happen in the most unexpected places. Check out our picks of fun away day venues for inspiration, or browse away day venues directly.
Parties
Team parties are your chance to say thank you properly. But a drinks reception with a Spotify playlist won't cut it. The events people remember are the ones with a genuine element of surprise or delight.
- Get the entertainment right: Festivities need energy. A live band, a wandering magician or circus performers keep the atmosphere alive and give people stories to tell.
- Include interactive experiences: Your team will relax faster if there's an activity to break the ice. A mixology masterclass or cocktail-making station gets people talking without the awkwardness of standing around a bar.
- Add memorable details: It's the unexpected touches that get talked about. Think liquid nitrogen cocktails, a custom neon sign for photos or a surprise dessert course that nobody saw coming.
- Capture the moments: Bring in a photo booth or set up a selfie wall so your team leaves with something tangible. Instant printing is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.
Check out our full range of party suppliers to help create great memories!
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Opportunities to give back
Volunteering as a team creates a bond that socials alone can't replicate. Working toward something meaningful together builds a sense of shared purpose that carries back into the workplace.
Find an organisation your team cares about, or better yet, let them choose. Ask people to put forward causes that matter to them and vote on where to direct your efforts. The key is framing it as a team experience, not a CSR box-ticking exercise. When people feel they're doing something that genuinely matters, together, it sticks.
Recognition and rewards
People want to feel seen. Recognition doesn't have to mean a formal awards ceremony (though those can be fantastic). Team lunches to celebrate a big win, surprise treats sent to remote workers or a spontaneous afternoon off after a tough deadline all send the same message: we notice, and we're grateful.
The best recognition is specific, timely and personal. A generic "great job team" email doesn't land the same way as a CEO who names the exact thing someone did and why it mattered.
So there you have it - some ideas for team-building activities, away days and retreats that can help to genuinely engage your team and bring them closer together. Whether you opt for in-person, virtual, or hybrid activities, we're confident that these tips will help you to create a stronger, more productive team!
How to plan experiences without draining your time and resources
With a full calendar of team events to run alongside your day job, resources get stretched quickly. That's where our team can help. Hire Space 360 takes the heavy lifting off your plate: venue finding, supplier sourcing and full event management for larger events like awards ceremonies.
You can bring us in for as much or as little as you need, so a lack of time doesn't have to mean a lack of great team experiences. Read more about how Hire Space 360 works, or get in touch below.
Author
Gemma Baker
Gemma loves all things social media and keeps busy by creating lots of Hire Space content. When she’s not creating content, you'll find her shopping, exploring or at the gym!
