Choose a purpose the team can recognise
Team building works best when the purpose is clear. A new team may need introductions; an established team may need cross-department collaboration; a family day may focus on appreciation and shared time. Avoid asking one event to solve every workplace issue.
Ask a small representative group what would make participation easier. Language, mobility, caring responsibilities, travel and confidence in group activities can all affect the experience. Use those answers to shape the format.
Select activities around participation
Create choices at different energy levels. Cooperative tasks can give quieter participants a useful role without requiring a performance in front of the whole company. Explain how teams are formed and how each activity works before it begins. Keep an alternative available for anyone unable to join a physical task.
- Use mixed teams where cross-department connections are the goal.
- Keep instructions short and available in the languages participants need.
- Allow time for refreshments, transitions and informal conversation.
- Brief facilitators on accessibility and how to offer alternatives discreetly.
Make remote participation intentional
For an online event, check platform access, time zones and the practicality of any materials needed at home. Use a rehearsal with the host and facilitators to test audio, screen sharing and room transitions. Give participants a simple joining guide and a contact for technical help.
For a mixed event, assign someone to support remote participants. A camera pointed at an in-person room rarely provides equal participation. Design activities that allow both groups to contribute, or run parallel experiences with a shared opening and closing.
Treat family participation as its own brief
If families are invited, define the expected age groups and whether children’s activities are supervised or require a parent to remain present. Confirm safeguarding responsibilities, venue arrangements and suitable activities with qualified providers. Avoid framing participation as compulsory or assuming every employee has the same family circumstances.
Use a simple running order
A useful programme moves from a short welcome to a low-pressure introduction, then the main activity, a break and a shared closing. Allocate transition time and agree who has authority to shorten an activity if the programme runs late. The exact duration should follow the group and venue rather than a fixed template.
Our portfolio includes KPMG’s team-building event. Use project examples to discuss the type of atmosphere you want, while defining a new programme around your own people and objectives.
Review the experience
Ask a few specific questions afterwards: Was it easy to participate? Did people connect with colleagues they do not normally work with? Which activity felt useful or enjoyable? Combine this feedback with attendance and delivery notes. Do not claim improvements in productivity or retention without evidence.
For help shaping the format and delivery, explore corporate event management.
