Employee Team Bonding: A Day At The Grand National

It’s all good and well having talented individual employees. But if those employees don’t feel part of a broader team within the company, it’ll be impossible to make the most of their talents. Happily, there are plenty of fun and easy ways to instil a sense of togetherness among staff. One of the top ways to do this is to spend a day at the races, like the Grand National. After all, the whole point of team bonding is to elevate the social relationships among staff, and there aren’t too many events more social than the Grand National! In this blog, we’ll run through some handy tips to make the most from your trip, including which day to go, where to stay, making the most of introductory betting offers, and how to use the new sense of teamwork once you’re back in the office.

Why To Emphasise Team Bonding 

Before we get into the details of attending the Grand National as a company, let’s think about why you should. As you might have guessed, this is about more than just having a great time with the people you work with. That’s a part of it, but it’s not the whole part. The reason why so many companies invest in team bonding is that it can positively impact the company’s bottom line. Study after study has shown just what a difference a strong sense of teamwork can make. So let’s take a look: why should you emphasise team bonding?

• On the Same Side

There’s much that companies can learn from sports teams. The teams that are a team of individuals, rather than one cohesive unit, are almost guaranteed to fail. This is the case even if the individual players are top level. On the flip side, teams that do have a strong sense of togetherness can pull off feats that you would otherwise think were impossible. Leicester City’s improbable Premier League success is a good example of that. So who knows what you and your team might just achieve, if everyone’s pulling in the same direction?

• Boosted Collaboration

Studies have shown that workers who know — and like — their colleagues are more likely to work on collaborative projects in the workplace and work on them well. You should endeavour to facilitate inter-employee projects whenever possible. After all, you never know what they might produce for your business.

• The Bottom Line

Ultimately, the bottom line is that team bonding is good for business. Employee happiness, productivity, and retention all go up, and they’re all things that can have significant and positive impacts on your business.

Details of the Event

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ll have heard of the Grand National. It’s the finest steeplechase in the world, after all! The festival takes place over three days (Thursday – Saturday) in April and attracts some 100,000+ attendees, who descend upon Liverpool — where the festival takes place — for three days of all-out fun. The Grand National sets itself apart from other horse racing events (minus other big-hitters, such as the Cheltenham Festival) by being about more than just the action that takes place on the track. The racing might be the star of the show, but it’s not the only attractive element of the festival.

This is a bona fide social extravaganza, one that promises plenty of fun and happy memories. It’s for this reason that the festival is such a popular option when it comes to corporate outings. It provides you and your team the chance to travel, get dressed up, and have a good time at an iconic event.

Attending the Grand National

You can have a great time at the Grand National no matter what type of ticket you have. But if you’re looking to really show your team a special time, then take a look at the hospitality packages. There are plenty to choose from, and the most basic package is highly affordable. The Tiger Roll suite, for example, offers good value for money. If you’re in that suite, you’ll have a spacious environment with great views. You and your team will also be served a three-course meal and have access to a complimentary bar.

If you’re looking to push the boat out, then consider hiring a private box. You’ll need to be a team of around 25 – 30 for exclusive access (smaller groups can share a box) and will be treated to all the trimmings. We’re talking champagne on arrival, a four-course lunch, afternoon tea, complimentary drinks, and much more.

Of course, you don’t need to get hospitality tickets for your team. You can have a great time even if you have tattersall tickets.

A Day of Fun

If you’ve never been to the Grand National before, then fear not, you’re in for a great time! There are no special rules for this event: once you’re there, it’s all about having a good time. But there are some things that you should do before you arrive. The first step is to make sure you and your travelling party have everything you need to dress to the nines. Ladies should wear a dress, gents, a suit. You may also want to use a free bet offer to back a horse to win. This is especially recommended if you’re new to the world of horse racing; you’ll be unlikely to pick a surefire winner, so a free bet will ensure you can be involved in the fun without risking your cash. Finally, you’ll also find that everything runs much more smoothly if you’ve booked accommodation in the centre of Liverpool — it’ll ensure that you can have a great time before, during, and after the event.

Final Thoughts

With the Grand National festival coming up, now’s the time to start planning your group trip to the event. In an era when employee engagement and happiness is more important than ever, it could be the team-bonding activity you need to push your business forward. And you’ll have a great time doing it, too.