At D+S, we’re all about mixing serious business with serious fun! Our recent All Staff Away Day was another, unforgettable adventure that brought our crew together from far and wide. It was a perfect blend of celebration, laughs and a dash of friendly competition.
Why do we believe in away days at D+S? Because they’re more than just a day out—they’re a chance to shake things up, strengthen bonds, and recharge our batteries. Here’s why they’re so important to us:
Building Connections: Away days break down barriers and bring our team together, no matter where they usually work.
Celebrating Success: Recognising our team’s hard work boosts morale and keeps everyone motivated.
Mixing Fun with Work: A day of diverse activities helps us all unwind and return to work with fresh energy.
Imagine being tasked with organising an epic away day after just a few months on the job. That’s exactly what Emma and Ali faced when charged with organising the 2024 Away Day.
“It was interesting to have been tasked with arranging an All Staff Away Day after only being at the company for a few months, but I’m very glad I was! It was an excellent opportunity to get to know everyone from all the other offices and different secondments and just have an all-round fun day,” said Emma.
The day kicked off at our swanky new digs at the Onyx building for breakfast and the business side of the day – presentations outlining goals and objectives for coming period and ambitions for the future.
Ali said, “We decided on breakfast in the office – a roll and sausage the perfect way to break the ice – so that all the offices started the day together including new staff so we could head to Boom Battle in our teams, ready to smash it.”
We headed down to the Boom Battle Bar en masse and carried on our day with a little axe throwing. Yep, you heard that right—axes! It’s harder than it looks BTW.
All limbs in tact, the competition was fierce amid games of Bulls Eye darts, shuffleboard and many other games – the cocktails certainly helped. Some hilarious moments and some unpredictable team successes!
After our morning escapades, we headed back to the office where our very own cocktail wizard, Adam from Drink Think, whipped up some seriously tasty concoctions. It was the perfect chill-out session before the evening’s grand festivities.
One by one our team appeared having shedded their day clothes and transformed into glitterati for the evening awards ceremony and dinner at The Clayton Hotel. Time to honour the stellar efforts of our team over the past year, all while enjoying a three-course meal and gearing up for a night to remember.
Here are some of the standout moments from our awards:
Projects Delivered on Time & Budget: Glasgow Airport Team
D+S Best Project Manager 2023/24: Paul Owens
D+S Best Quantity Surveyor 2023/24: Isla Sawers and David McKechnie
Best D+S Project of 2023/2024: Wave Garden
Graduate Awards: Kieran McKenna, Craig Tripney, Jodi Renwick
Human Megaphone: David Forrester
Early Bird Award: Pauline Kerr
D+S Swag Award: Adam Smith
Head Cheerleader Award: Ali Currie
The Coach Award: Gerry Milne
And because we know how to party, the night didn’t end there. Oh no! Karaoke and a casino visit were the cherry on top, rounding off a day that had it all.
Our 2024 All Staff Away Day was a fun-filled hit that showed just what makes D+S a fantastic place to work. We’re all about our team, forward-thinking, and the magic that happens when we all come together.
Here’s to the next one—who knows what wild and wonderful adventures await – over to you Sam!!