Birthday Celebration
A Sunny Spring Day in London
A hectic year of business amalgamation, integration and relocation came to an end as the team gathered at the Park Plaza Riverbank in April. During one of the busiest years on record, the business drew healthcare and household together, integrated Scholl and helped to move numerous staff to London, so the team could work together in the company UK headquarters. The conference was therefore to be a celebration of results, achievements both personal and business and a successful amlgamation and integration process. An open book policy on the conference "shape", meant that ideas would be welcome as to format, content, presentation and theme.
With increased
numbers, the first challenge was finding a hotel big
enough, at quite short notice and several venues were put forward
in and outside London. In the end London won the
day with Park Plaza being the chosen destination. Although
large enough to accommodate everyone, many of the bedrooms were
already out on allocation, so rooms had to be secured at nearby
hotels to accommodate some of the delegates (with transport
required to move them to and fro). A huge
meeting room, needs a special stage set and the team had great
fun designing the perfect solution with "ideal" lighting to
complement the corporate colours. Then the sound needs to
fill the room, especially if we are to have that celebrity
band. Next the slides and then the walk on music, oh and
don't forget the inevitable 11th hour rewrites (or first
editions).
Essential logistical aspects sorted, time for some business. The sessions were a good mixture of fact and fun, with weighty presentations on certain aspects and more informal play acted sessions, delivered via with novel interpretation in some quite outrageous costumes.
Then for some fun with a massive birthday cake, fancy decorations for the gala dinner and entertainment for the pre dinner drinks and dinner too. Balloon artists, caricaturists, magicians and a lookalike who had one aspect of her study off to a "T", all helped to entertain, as good food and wine were served by a willing and very professional team of staff.
Awards varied in their nature and were handed to the delighted, amazed and dedicated alike, as the company celebrated one achievement after another including an astonishing 35 years of unstinting service by one employee.
Dinner finished, coffee cups cleared, onto the dance floor for some real partying as everyone joined in the fun and danced the night away; only "curfew" and the lack of music prevented the party from lasting until dawn.
Refreshed and bright eyed, the delegates returned for some full on team building, which as well as creating an enormous mess seemed to be fun too! A hearty buffet lunch and then the delegates were on their way for a weeknd of peace and quiet?? "The best RB conference I have ever been on" was the accolade of one as he swept away through the hotel front door.