Concur chooses Preseli Venture

Client Concur Technologies
Event Conference and team building
Group size 19
Date 26-27 February 2009
Venue Preseli Venture, Pembrokeshire

The brief Concur Technologies wanted an active, morale-boosting event to take managers and sales teams out of their comfort zone. It needed exclusive use of a venue to build a team conference into the programme and accommodation for an overnight stay. Preseli Venture offered exclusive use of its five-star eco lodge for the duration of the event.

Challenges The main challenge was ‘buy-in' from the team - about 20 per cent of delegates were nervous about the idea of coasteering. The Preseli instructors needed to let the team building develop naturally while subtly encouraging it.
The choice of accommodation was also a challenge because the delegates were used to staying in five-star city hotels, whereas Preseli is in the heart of the Pembrokeshire National Park and some delegates would be required to share bedrooms.
Finally, the Preseli team had to meet the needs of a client group, while sticking to its own green credentials as a venue provider.

Solutions The client and venue's event team agreed that engendering a spirit of mutual support and encouragement was vital. "Our instructors are very experienced in getting the best out of people and understanding the objectives of the event," says Preseli Venture marketing manager Claire Carlile.
Delegates took to the home-from-home style of the accommodation, a success Carlile attributes to managing expectations with lots of advance information. "The small, friendly ethos of the lodge won them over and offered a different type of experience," she adds.
As for green issues, she believes Preseli offers delegates a taste of sustainable living without compromising on the brief.

Execution The event started with a business meeting at the lodge on the afternoon of the first day, followed by supper and a late bar. Day two was given over to the coasteering session, with Preseli's instructors taking the group for a half-day excursion along the Pembrokeshire coast. This was followed by lunch and a debriefing.

Verdict Concur Technologies UK sales director Gareth Vincent says: "Our expectations were exceeded on a number of fronts. From observing interaction in the workplace, there is a stronger team cohesion as a result of the event."