Sometimes you need to get out of London to get a fresh perspective on corporate events.
For our latest exclusive FAM trip, we took a group of our corporate event professionals members to Wilderness Reserve in Suffolk for 24 hours of exploring, networking, eating, relaxing and, of course, experiencing the venue first-hand.
And the best bit? It’s just two hours from London by train, but feels a world away.
A venue with plenty of options
We completed a tour of the estate and its versatile event spaces, exploring how Wilderness Reserve could work for different types of corporate events.
From leadership retreats and team away-days to incentives, conferences, filming, private celebrations and residential events, there are plenty of ways to use the estate. The combination of accommodation, event spaces, activities and the surrounding countryside means you can create a programme tailored to your group.
And, as always with our FAM trips, we wanted to experience the activities ourselves.
We tried our hand at axe throwing and clay pigeon shooting, there are over 40 activities that you can incorporate into your events. From thrill seeking options to chilled vibes. There is something for everyone.
There was also plenty of time for networking and catching up with our members, which is always one of the highlights of our trips. We exchanged lots of insights and ideas of how we would utilise the spaces at the venue which is always so helpful.
Making time for wellbeing
We also wanted to explore how wellbeing could form part of an event programme, so we partnered with Antidote London for a mindful floristry workshop.
It was the perfect opportunity to slow down, get creative and do something completely different from our usual working day. Plus we went home with a beautiful bouquet of flowers!
Antidote offers a range of wellness experiences for corporate groups, from mindfulness and meditation to creative and movement-based activities, providing plenty of options for building wellbeing into an event programme.
Don’t forget the downtime
One of our biggest takeaways was the importance of not over-programming an event.
There was time to enjoy the swimming pool, sauna and hot tub, relax and simply take in the surroundings.
For us, that balance is one of the things that makes Wilderness Reserve particularly interesting for corporate groups. You can create a packed team-building programme, but you can also give delegates space to switch off and recharge.
And then there was the food…
Breakfast and dinner were prepared by a private chef, giving the group a chance to enjoy fantastic and delicious food together without having to leave the estate.
Combine that with the estate’s activities, accommodation, event spaces and countryside setting and you have plenty of scope to create a programme that feels genuinely different.
Our takeaway
The value of a FAM is being able to experience a venue rather than simply hear about it.
We’ve explored the spaces, tried the activities, experienced the food and tested the downtime, so when we talk to our members and stakeholders about Wilderness Reserve and Antidote London, we’re talking from first-hand experience.
A brilliant 24 hours and another venue and supplier added to our corporate events toolkit!
A huge thank you to the Wilderness Reserve team, Antidote London and, of course, our members for joining us.
