The D+S team were left shaken and stirred after a much-anticipated post-Covid full team away day. The blueprint for the day was the output of many hours of planning logistics and entertainment which would universally appeal to the full spectrum of colleagues who were coming together from 4 corners of the UK for the first time in 3 years.
Ordinarily an away day may not merit a blog in its own right but the bonhomie and togetherness from the day, coupled with the feedback and takeaways across the team have inspired us to document our Bond-themed away day.
Glasgow HQ was the congregation point and by 9am the office was a hive of activity with bacon rolls and hot coffee the order of the day. With so many new faces and the full complement of staff together for the first time since the pandemic, we were making use of the proceedings to get a full team shot – as well as new profile shots of those who’d travelled the further. *Editors’ note to Glasgow and Edinburgh troops your mug shots will be taken in Nov.
Bellies filled and smiles snapped, we boarded the bus and headed for the bonnie bonnie banks of Loch Lomond. From the chatter and buzz aboard the coach, you’d be forgiven for mistaking it for a school trip, possibly a nod to the day that lay ahead.
On arrival at the Loch Lomond Arms Hotel we were offered beverages of both the alcoholic and non-alcoholic types – all gratefully received as we readied ourself for the day head.
In true Doig + Smith form, the mantra for the day was work hard, play hard… Well actually work a little then let’s have a blast. Straight down to business, and an hour of short presentations covering the main business functions and locations, general business updates, marketing, and training. A small sprinkling of heckling and sweepstakes as to likely lengths of the various individuals’ presentations added an element for fun to the business updates. However, the full team was immersed and focused as they learned about areas unrelated to them or their team.
Feedback from some of our younger team members suggests the business presentations were not just informative but hugely motivational and reaffirmed to them why they joined D+S.
A successful business is nothing without its employees and as such the tail end of the business hour centred on the team. Initially, 5 employees – Douglas Fairley, George Gray, William Bowie, Jackie Grieve, and Tracy McLenaghan were presented with gifts acknowledging 30, 30, 25, 25, and 25 years of loyalty and service. An incredible achievement, especially in an age where the temptation is to move jobs frequently.
Another positive announcement followed – the promotion of Dean Carrick to Technical Director – a much-merited move after his incredible work on developing and implementing the D+S Academy through and beyond lockdown.
The feel-good factor continued with a couple of good news items which affected every member of staff. Firstly, we appreciate that times are really hard and as a business who puts our staff at the forefront, we wanted to help everyone across the board, equally with the confirmation of a “cost of living bonus” for every member of staff which was met with rounds of applause. And secondly within a similar vein, the announcement of staff electric car and bike schemes to be rolled out in 2022. Office refurbs and upgrades were also confirmed for 2022 much to the pleasure of all staff in the room.
Rumbling stomachs around the room meant it was lunchtime and we fuelled up on delicious hot food before splitting off into teams to receive our James Bond Spy Mission.
4 x 4 off-road “Landrovering” to a pop-up cocktail bar atop the hills overlooking the loch and Zodiac boat missions to a distant island for a brief by the inimitable Q – we worked as teams to scavenge required items, take specific evidentiary photos and more.
On completion of our first 2 missions, we had a secret rendezvous with Miss Moneypenny who had a final task for us to complete which involved some role play and subtlety – which came more naturally to some of us than others. Indeed, Moneypenny mentioned that one particular group were the most ‘unsubtle’ she had ever witnessed!!
To the victor the spoils… The winning team received a bottle of fizz and the kudos of beating their colleagues. But in reality we were all winners. Fresh air, open water, adrenaline meant 40 or so hungry spies all salivating at the thought of the imminent BBQ, washed down with cold beer and rich red wine.
As the coach arrived to return us to Glasgow, the younger contingent were negotiating refreshments for the bus… We’re unsure as to whether or not they were successful. What we can confirm however is that firstly, us older ones headed home tired, motivated and well-fed, whilst the younger ones all headed out for a night on the tiles.
The second fact we can confirm is that all the planning, juggling and logistics were more than worth it. New life breathed into the organisation, new friendships made, groups brought closer together and a massive injection of motivation into an already motivated team.
Mission complete.