Top tips for planning a corporate event

In the past couple of years, the corporate event industry has enjoyed a significant bounce-back with businesses more eager than ever to bring people together.

Corporate events range from charity fundraisers to team-building activity days, but what they all have in common is the ability to build relationships, demonstrate achievements, and encourage team spirit.

Done correctly, these events can be a powerful business tool, but we understand that planning and organising a corporate event can be daunting.

So, to help you navigate the world of event planning, we’ve put together a list of our top tips to ensure your upcoming event won’t soon be forgotten.

Objectives

The first step in planning corporate events is to ask; what do we hope to achieve? Once you’ve clearly defined your goals and objectives, whether it be boosting morale, celebrating a milestone or promoting your brand, you can decide what event type will be the most effective.

Budget

According to a recent survey, 79 per cent of companies allocate a specific budget for team events and gatherings. Budgeting is one of the most important parts of running any business, and this is the most important aspect of how to organise a corporate event. Funds will must be allocated for everything from the venue to catering, expenses and entertainment. Once you’ve detailed all the expected costs, we always recommend you add an additional 10 to 15 per cent on top for unexpected expenses along the way.

Venue

Your venue will inevitably set the tone and is therefore a crucial aspect of how to plan a corporate event, which is why it makes sense that, in 2018, a total of 73 per cent of event planners collaborated with hotels. Hotels often have the space, the look and the facilities, but they are not the only venues to consider. You need something that meets all of these requirements and, more importantly, aligns with your objectives, brand and theme. Why not join the 53 per cent of event planners who opted for more unusual venues?

Program

The key to how to host a corporate event is to have a well-structured and thoughtful program to keep everyone engaged and entertained. This can include welcome drinks and canapes, keynote speakers, workshops, entertainment, breaks for food and awards ceremonies.

Guests at any corporate event want something to look forward to, and we find that additions such as award ceremonies are often the highlight of the event.

Our crystal glass awards can help to enhance the ambience of your event, adding a touch of class while demonstrating appreciation to recipients. These visually stunning awards will serve as a lasting reminder of their accomplishments and the way in which they were celebrated during the event.

Marketing

Did you know that 48 per cent of brands realise a return on investment (ROI) of between 300 and 500 per cent with event marketing? Marketing is the most powerful tool any business can use, and investing in effective marketing strategies will always result in a successful event.

If your corporate event requires you to reach out to individuals beyond your organisation, it is important that you utilise your social media platforms, email marketing and even traditional printed adverts to reach your audience.

Registration

One of the biggest mistakes any organisation hosting an event can make is having a poor or complicated registration process. Individuals are far more likely to attend if you offer quick and simple online registration options. Obviously, this is a good thing in and of itself, but a lesser and often overlooked benefit is that this can provide a wealth of valuable data that can be used to inform future event planning.

Awards and trophies for corporate events

We hope that these tips have provided you with a solid starting point when it comes to planning a corporate event.

If you are interested in learning more about any of our Crystal & Glass Awards, don’t hesitate to get in touch with the Trophies2u team by giving us a call on 01527 400092, or you can send an email to us at enquiries@brtgroup.co.uk, and we’ll get straight back to you.