Corporate Team Building on a Budget – III. The Activity

The demand for companies to offer different corporate team-building programs is continuously increasing among employees. Beyond the basic benefits package, having opportunities to occasionally eat, drink, and have fun somewhere for free is becoming an essential expectation. Service providers have noticed this as well, and alongside general price increases, you can sometimes observe above-average costs for corporate events. Naturally, there are limits to this, and we aim to offer the best possible programs at the most favorable prices—since the better deals we land, the more budget remains for future events or planning. In our "Corporate Team Building on a Budget" series, we explore how to cut costs while still providing a memorable experience.

Another crucial, though perhaps less obvious, element of these events is the team-building program itself. Even after finding the right venue and providing good food and drinks for employees, the question remains—what should they do now? Does there need to be an activity at all? And is there any budget left for a special team-building program?

There are mixed opinions about what the goal of a corporate team-building is and what kind of program should be offered. Nevertheless, it’s fair to say that something should be arranged.

Tips and tricks for selecting a cost-effective team-building program:

• Let them entertain themselves! A very simple and cheap solution is to involve the participants—ask them to bring board games, sports equipment, or any other game they know. The company can also make a small investment in such supplies, or there are numerous inexpensive rental options. This is a very relaxed, popular approach as employees aren’t forced to do anything specific, but you can still say there was a program, and it costs hardly anything.
• Make cooking the main activity! As mentioned earlier, cooking together not only greatly reduces the catering budget but also serves as an excellent team-building program! All you need to do is buy the ingredients and equipment, print the recipes, divide people into teams, and announce a contest! Most people enjoy this “game.”
• Run the games yourself! While the range of possible team-building games is endless, almost anyone can organize a few basic, simple programs. In future articles, we’ll provide specific examples with details, but as a teaser, games like “Sleeping City,” “Einstein's Riddle,” and “Bingo” all fit this category. These are easy to manage and require few materials—just some preparation.
• Utilize what the venue offers! Often, the venue itself provides colorful programs, like golf, go-karting, paintball, drink tastings, team competitions, etc. If you’re already there, you have a good chance of getting a better deal on these on-site services than from external providers.
• Ask the venue for recommendations! They can surely recommend corporate team-building providers they've worked with who delivered a quality program. Don’t hesitate to request quotes from rural providers as well, since—even including travel fees—they often offer better rates than their Budapest competitors.
• When it comes to team-building programs, we specifically strive to provide quality service at reasonable, affordable prices, so it’s worth checking out our programs on the site.

The key is always to know your colleagues’ needs and try to find team-building programs that meet those needs for your specific corporate event.