'Tis the season....

I know it is only May, and the warm weather is only just upon us, but it really is not too early to be mentioning Christmas! Here at Sheer Edge the team have already been making bookings for Christmas parties and events and are in the process of venue finding for many others. Let’s have a look now at one of the main events of the working calendar and we will also explore some alternative ideas for the office “do”.

Failing to plan is planning to fail!

Have you ever heard that? It has a certain truth when it comes to Christmas parties; planning, and most certainly early planning, is key. It can come as a surprise to many businesses how early venues can become booked up for December. Thinking about Christmas in autumn can already be too late, leaving some businesses disappointed. Perhaps planning the Christmas party could be on the agenda once the new financial year is upon you, and budgets can be agreed.

Traditional or Alternative?

Many companies like the good old-fashioned Christmas party which often involves a meal out and lots of drinks;  a chance to socialise away from the office and let your hair down. This can result in stories on which you can dine out for years! But it is no longer about the office night on the town, you could look at some amazing opportunities to ensure your Christmas party has a twist or a purpose that can be beneficial to you as a business as well as your employees.

We have already booked venues for private hire. Rather than a town restaurant you can book a meal at a hotel venue. Everything laid out for you, entertainment included and accommodation on site to boot!

In previous blogs, we have discussed the importance of work-life balance and family. Christmas is traditionally a family time, so have you considered a family day to include your employees’ partners and children?  We have worked with clients to make group bookings on popular Christmas attractions like Polar Express.

Some of you may use the opportunity of a Christmas event to support your team building and development activities. Instead of the traditional summer days out, you could use the wintertime as an alternative. We can help you to explore some options. Christmas could really be a good time to get to know your working family and make them feel special…

Many companies use Christmas as a time to reward employees with a financial bonus. Have you considered combining this with other incentives at this time of year? Here at Sheer Edge, we have hospitality bookings for gigs well in advance; perhaps you could consider the purchase of tickets as Christmas presents.  There are a lot of great sporting events in the winter as well, depending on your tastes. What about hospitality at World Darts?

There are so many different ideas, why not give us all call and discuss some options – before it gets too late!

Corporate and Social Responsibility (I)

Mental health awareness is crucial at Christmas time. For many, Christmas can feel like the worst time of year. Family arguments, bereavement, loneliness can feel particularly difficult to cope with when everyone is meant to be “happy”. Combine that with the dark winter days and it can be a recipe for very poor mental health for some individuals.  How well do you know your team? Would a Christmas party, gathering, team build, or other activity be helpful? Can you make this a positive experience for all? Try and work together to ensure that everyone’s needs are considered.

Corporate and Social Responsibility (II)

Environmental issues are so important, and when planning your Christmas party why not discuss with your employees what they would like to see your business do to support the green issues – and not just at Christmas!

We can help with this by liaising with venues to ensure that their environmental practices are of a high standard. And we can offer suggestions on keeping your events as environmentally friendly as possible:  Change balloons and plastic table confetti to re-usable or biodegradable alternatives; ensure that the venue does not use plastic cutlery, plastic straws or other single-use plastics. Just a few suggestions and we would be glad to hear your thoughts too!

The future

Can technology play a part in your Christmas? Sheer Edge have some amazing ideas about how AI can be incorporated into your Christmas events to ensure they are modern, exciting alternatives to the traditional meal and wine.

Consider a robot welcoming your guests, taking your pictures and playing your music, or, what do you think of incorporating some sort of augmented reality into how your guests arrive at the venue, maybe how they enter the main room or experience some of the entertainment?

These are just some ideas and suggestions, there are really so many options to consider. Do give us all call to talk through possibilities.

I hope I will hear from you all very soon to initiate plans for Christmas parties and presents. It is never too early! Get ahead of the game and ensure that you will have prepared the most special Christmas with your work colleagues ever!

Jo Ferreday is the Managing Director of Sheer Edge and co-founder of Inspiring Dining. With nearly two decades of experience in the corporate hospitality and events industry, she is committed to providing excellent customer experience through her services. Finding the perfect venue and creating a unique experience is her priority.