Some teambuilding companies think that they can fob people off with Stag and Hen Do-Type activities and call it a team build. They somehow believe, (or don't care), that having a large proportion of the group standing around waiting for others to finish their turn on an activity will help the collective to bond and work better together. We all know that won't really work. Watching colleagues drive a buggy around a field for a couple of hours before your 5-minute spin isn't that great. Some companies prefer the humiliation/scare them to death route, opting to drag disengaged or anxious participants through pointless, terrifying activities so that they can feel much more confident in the workplace. Really? Having people standing at the side because they aren't physically able to participate in the whole session won't really help them - it goes without saying! We can offer high-adrenaline activities if that's what is right for your group, (we don't want people feeling it's all too easy either); we aim to provide just the right level of adventure for all. Your group deserve an event backed by people who really care that we get it right for you. Move along, duck-herders!

Facilitation means that we don't just give you the answers, and we don't leave you struggling with something so that you can't make progress. Instead, we give you activities designed to mimic situations which may challenge you in the workplace, and then we carefully guide you through them in a non-threatening, safe and inclusive manner. We are skilled in observation - spotting things you might not be aware of. We are trained in effective questioning - this allows you to come up with answers which you might not otherwise think of. You will even have some laughs tackling the tough stuff!

Our numbers are for guidance; less can work for some activities, and more can work for others, but we would need to discuss your requirements with you in detail to make sure that we can offer something which will still provide an effective session for everyone. We always aim to include and engage everyone all through the activities. Some activities would mean too many people are waiting for a turn to get involved if your numbers are too high; success can also be restricted by numbers being too small. We need to judge this carefully and so please do talk to us and we'll do our best to find something which will give you all a great learning opportunity.

Some think that you can learn by listening to a speaker or by reading copious notes. It's sometimes true, but it can be pretty dull, don't you agree? Watch any young child - they learn hundreds of new skills a day, (adults average a shameful two a year) - and toddlers do it by experimenting, by doing, by exploring, by experiencing. This is what experiential learning is about - getting stuck in, hands-on, whatever you like to call it, it's scientifically proven to give more meaning to what's being learned. That makes the learning stick. And that's got to be a good thing. Now, how much of your 'death by powerpoint' training sessions do you actually remember well enough to make use of? Thought so. So come on, let's get immersed in some eye-opening, thought-provoking and memorable learning. It's better than staring at a screen any day.

They're not as scary as they sound! Basically, they measure the emotional or behavioural capacities of people, those non-academic yet massively important skills which aren't easily shown off by standard academic qualifications. So your new post candidates all have a First Class Degree in your area of need, but can they actually communicate with people? Will they adapt to change? Are they able to manage stress? Your newly recruited group all came with glowing references, but will they make helpful decisions? Will they forge ahead like a loose cannon or will they need a micro-manager? Are they resourceful? Are they likely to blend in or stand out? When you consider that the average CV will claim that all positive attributes are present in abundance, how can you be sure you are getting what you need? All of a sudden, psychometric tools seem rather comforting, don't you think?

Every group we work with has a mix of personalities, attitudes and levels of resilience all borne from different life stories. People have reasons for feeling reluctant to join in, and we respect that. Some may even have been on poor 'teambuilding' events elsewhere. Here at Fire Events we do things differently. We know that everyone has their own outlook. We work hard before and during the day to keep this in mind. Your group will all be encouraged to participate but we would never try to force interaction. Rather, we show understanding, we reassure, and we support those who need help to get involved. We can find ways of helping them to have a positive and fulfilling experience too, even if they have medical or emotional needs which might prevent them feeling enthusiastic at first.

If you are opting for the budget option, we recommend that you hold your activities on-site, as this usually keeps your costs down. If you are a multi-site organisation, it might make more sense to hold your event at a neutral location such as a mid-point hotel, or even a village hall if your funds are limited. We can run events anywhere where there is enough space and suitable facilities to accommodate the activities and your numbers. We have built relationships with a many venues around the UK, so talk to us if you need advice about this.

We know that there are often people in the group who may be actively contributing to workplace challenge. Be assured that we don't shy away from tackling compromising behaviours, but we do handle this with care. That's where psychometrics really help - it's the assessment talking, not another person judging, and this can make areas for growth easier to accept. We have also worked with enough teams to know that most organisations have elements of their workplace that they'd rather not make public. Maintaining a positive image to your customers or clients is paramount, and believe us, there are very, very few organisations out there who get everything right. We never share information which can identify you without your permission - difficult circumstances you divulge to us, or those which become apparent during an event, are actually great starting points for learning. We aim to empower groups to make the changes they need in order to improve, and sharing the truth with us makes it possible.

It's simple really. Your group's lack of time to commit to team development says one of two things: They're either too busy because they're truly brilliant, high-performing and already doing everything right, which is why they're so busy! If they can't perform any better, you might be best to do everything you can to keep hold of them, by at least offering some of our fun activities as a reward. If this isn't the case, then perhaps they're too busy because they're not doing everything as efficiently as they could? Maybe they end up fire-fighting, repeating instructions, duplicating others' work, and struggling with motivation for a good part of each day. Could there be anything more urgent than getting this group on track? It sounds like a priority in all honesty!

We would like to give a definitive cost, but it is a bit like saying, "How long is a piece of string?" We can give you a rough guide: half-day sessions are normally within the region of £500-£1200 full day sessions are normally within the range of £800-£5000 Ongoing Programmes tend to start from £1500. We assure you that we know your budgets are often under pressure, and we do everything we can to accommodate your spending boundaries yet still provide you with excellent value for money. Costs depend on activities chosen and the number of attendees, along with your chosen location. These fees do not include VAT or Venue/Catering costs, but they do include mileage, which will be itemised on your invoice, and all preliminary liaison, event planning and preparation, staff, equipment, appropriate psychometric purchases, insurance and basic debrief costs.