Staff outing
Twente
A day when the office and the shop floor don't stay in their own corners for once. For mixed groups, with activities that everyone can join in.
The group is more mixed than at a team outing
At a staff outing, the admin staff stand next to the field staff and the intern next to someone who's worked there for twenty years. Different ages, different levels of fitness, and people who sometimes only know each other from the corridor.
A programme that doesn't take that into account falls apart into small groups that already belonged together. We build it so that people do need each other, without it feeling forced.
- From 20 to several hundred participants
- Teams deliberately mixed, not by department
- Several activities at once, so no queues
- Hosts who keep up the pace and keep track of the results
Four things that make a staff outing fail
Dividing teams by department
The easiest split and at the same time the least useful. Everyone stays with the people they already see every day. Mixing them up feels awkward at the start and pays off the most afterwards.
Everything on speed and strength
Then the youngest department wins and the rest watch. We make sure there are always activities where discussion, precision or knowledge decide the outcome, so that winning is not tied to age.
Going on too long
After about three hours, attention drops with almost every group. We would rather have a tight programme with a clear end and then drinks, than something that keeps running until people walk off by themselves.
Nobody holding it together
With a large group you need someone to keep the pace and track the results. If that is left to a colleague, they spend the whole afternoon working instead of taking part.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a staff outing and a team outing?
A team outing is usually one department that knows each other well. At a staff outing the whole company comes together, and then the office worker sits next to the technician and the intern next to someone who's worked there for twenty years. That calls for a different set-up, because the group is much more mixed.
How do you keep such a mixed group together?
By not dividing the teams by department. If you do, everyone stays with their own people and nothing has changed afterwards. We mix them deliberately, and include activities where you need something from someone else to make progress.
For how many people can you organise a staff outing?
From about 20 to several hundred. With large groups we run several activities at the same time in a rotation, so nobody is left waiting. That is usually the difference between an outing that runs smoothly and one where half the people are bored.
Can it be held during working hours or in the evening?
Both. During the day we more often see an afternoon programme with drinks afterwards. In the evening the group is usually smaller but looser. Which works better depends on whether people come by car and whether partners are invited.
What do we need to arrange ourselves?
You arrange the venue, the food and drinks, and someone who knows how many people are coming. We bring the programme, the equipment and the hosts. We need power and enough space to divide the group. Setting up takes us about an hour.
What does a staff outing in Twente cost?
A compact programme starts at €195. The final price depends on the number of participants, the duration and whether we also arrange a venue. After the first conversation you'll get a firm price.
Tell us about your staff outing
Just fill in the short form. As soon as we have a picture of the group and the occasion, we'll send a price estimate within 1 working day.
Planning a staff outing in Twente?
Tell us how many people are coming and when it needs to happen. We are happy to think along, with no obligation.