About The Real Adventure

The Real Adventure Marketing Communications Ltd regularly hold team building events and their most recent was a one day workshop for fifteen of their junior team members, drawn from different departments within the agency. The event was held on-site, and run by Lifebeat, an organisation which trains people to work more creatively, and helps groups connect, collaborate and form close working communities. The workshop goals were to: build a safe, collaborative working environment, use arts-based activities to enhance cooperation and build group trust, enhance individual relationships, share resources, identify next steps, have fun! At the end of the workshop, participants were asked to evaluate the event and plan what, if anything, they would do differently in their work as a result. Early signs are that the event established a peer group of junior staff beyond specific departments, improved cross-team collaboration, and increased individual self-confidence.

The Real Adventure Marketing Communications Ltd have a local charity of the Year. This year it is a local, national or international charity nominated by and voted for by all their employees, which they will commit to champion throughout the year by supporting different fundrising events and they will match any funds raised up to £1,500. Their Charity of the Year runs from April to March, and in March 2013 they raised in total £4,000 for MNDA.

The Real Adventure Marketing Communications Ltd reward their employees in a number of ways, including recognising and rewarding outstanding work through their monthly ‘star awards’ for individuals, and regular ‘team awards’ for groups. However they believe their most unique approach is their end of financial year reward, as this is a package made up of different elements. The package applies to all employees and comprises one day’s extra holiday, a gift of £75 to be spent on a meal or entertainment activity which is taken in employees’ own time, a performance related or ‘stretch’ bonus (for example in FY13 payments ranged from £250 to £3000), and an after-work evening party at a local venue, with drinks, food, and entertaining presentations by senior management and team members, reflecting on the year past. As the event usually ends after midnight, they provide taxis home or hotel accommodation for those who live further than 30 miles from the office. What makes The Real Adventure Marketing Communications Ltd a unique is that the package combines universal rewards, the holiday, meal gift, and evening out, with individualised rewards, the stretch bonus. It also combines celebrating as an organisation, with celebrating with friends and family, something their employees say they much appreciate.