In-Conversation with Purple Soup and Corporate Challenge Events
In a highly competitive business landscape to retain manpower and build talent, the importance of positive team culture cannot be overstated. Many organisations utilize team-building activities to achieve this, backed by research in organisational psychology and management.
Organisations holding planning days, conferences and executive retreats in regional Victoria are increasingly including team-building components in their programs to optimize the objectives and purpose for their off-site gatherings.
Team-building used to be seen as “optional” are now strategically harnessed as part of the tool-box for organisations seeking to improve communications among team members and across teams, enhance collaboration, encourage blue-sky thinking, increase trust, and boost morale and motivation.
The list of benefits goes on where specialized team-building providers design and customize programs and activities to assist organisations in delivering events to hit the mark, particularly for organisations with complex work environments.
We took the opportunity to hear some insights on this topics from Corporate Challenge Events and Purple Soup, who design and deliver team-building activities in regional Victoria.
Purple Soup
Corporate Challenge Events
Tell us more about your company?
Purple Soup:
Purple Soup Team Building was launched in 2011 with the vision to facilitate challenging, entertaining, stimulating and fun events for the corporate market that would support sending seriously ill young people to adventure therapy camps.
Corporate Challenge Events:
With over 30 years’ experience, Corporate Challenge Events are a leader in delivering charity team activities that boost team performance and enhance workplace culture. We believe success is created through positive fun team cultures and our passion is to help organisations achieve this through delivering unique and rewarding events, corporate training and team experiences that leave a lasting happiness.
Why do you think so many organisations are investing in team-building?
Purple Soup:
The corporate landscape today against the constant backdrop of change and uncertainty has meant that creating and maintaining effective teams within organisations is a priority and no longer a “good to have” or a luxury optional. Companies are increasingly turning to professional team-building professionals to design activities to enhance communication, collaboration and motivation amongst employees.
We deliver a versatile range of outdoor adventures in nature, such as ropes courses and kayaking, fun outdoor events such as Silly Olympics and Survivor to indoor challenges for problem-solving to fun-based events such as ‘Supreme Chef’ and Shaken not Stirred Cocktail Making. Regardless of the specific activity, the goal remains consistent: to cultivate a sense of camaraderie, resilience, and adaptability among co-workers in a relaxed fun environment.
What have you observed as an increasing focus by clients on team-building requirements?
Corporate Challenge Events:
Organisations have a rising awareness of their corporate social responsibilities (CSR) and the growing need for businesses to demonstrate their commitment to social responsibility in a tangible way in the face of changing expectations by our stakeholders – employees, customers and communities.
We know through a Deloitte study, that purpose-driven companies had 40% higher levels of workforce retention than their competitors. The Cone Communications Millennial Employee Study also found that 64% of millennials won’t take a job if their employer doesn’t have a strong CSR policy, with 83% being more loyal to a company that helps them contribute to social and environmental issues.
Team building activities have evolved to align with this shift. Whilst charity team building as a concept has been around for more than a decade, activities being designed for corporate events have shifted as rapidly as the CSR landscape – evolving from merely gathering donations or staff volunteering time to ongoing activities that align and are integral with companies’ CSR priorities.
These aren’t your stock-standard team-building activities but instead are meticulously designed to enhance team dynamics whilst facilitating in-kind donations for those most in need. These become opportunities for organisations to not only boost team performance but also to make a positive impact in the community.
Purple Soup
Corporate Challenge Events
What charity team-building activities or programs do you offer?
Purple Soup:
As a not-for-profit social enterprise, all our proceeds from our team-building arm go towards Purple Soup’s adventure therapy programs. Over 75,000 young people are affected by chronic illness in Australia each year. Thousands of special moments have been created for young people and families to step outside of their comfort zone and challenge themselves in a safe and fun environment. Over the past 14 years, we’ve designed and delivered exciting day programs as well as weekend camps across Australia for organisations such as Epilepsy Action Australia, Cystic Fibrosis Victoria and Haemophilia Foundation Australia among others.
Corporate Challenge Events:
Our “Bikes for Tykes” program has seen more than 60,000 participants build and donate over 9,500 bikes that have become invaluable assets for families in need, non-profit community groups, and children battling illnesses. More than just a mode of transport – these bikes become a means for children to play, feel special, have fun and remain active.
Another initiative of ours ‘Out of the Box’ program connects socially responsible organisations with the Good Box and has resulted in donations of over $70,000 worth of essential items to Australians experiencing homelessness.
Click here to learn more about Corporate Challenge Events and Purple Soup and their services.
