TEAMBUILDING SOLUTIONS
Below is a selection of team building events which provide various solutions to common team needs. If you can’t find one to suit your needs, go to the “Build your own Team build” page and design your own!
MULTI-TASK CHALLENGE
Introduction
Our most popular team build with many different small tasks, with a slight twist – at first glance the brief looks as if this will be a competitive event, but part way through it becomes apparent that to reach the final objective (a pre determined cash amount) the sub- teams must
co-operate and share information to make the money.
The tasks involved are designed to be used in hotel grounds and can be attempted by people of all abilities, their typical duration being 20 minutes. Any number of tasks can be added / removed to suit time scales or outcomes, (see the “Build your own team build” page for more task descriptions).
Details
Tasks could include:
- Frogger – crossing a pond using planks and safe areas
- Babylon Tower – A pile of differing size discs are to be moved in a certain way
- Snappy – Similar to “minesweeper” on the PC, this is a task where sharing information leads to big rewards
- Semaphore – A communication task with a dliberate mistake to catch out the perceptive people
- Farmers – An information sharing task which can be very confusing
- Blindfold Square – communication and forward planning are a must before you are blindfolded
- Noah’s problem – Build a structure which will keep your team off the ground
- Keypunch – A fast paced task where team focus, planning and control are key. A big money earner too.
- Wishing well – retrieve a sample of holy water using a home made construction
- Ski Free – Giant team skis carrying 6 people are used to cross a course
Many other tasks are available and the finale, when enough money has been earned, is Pandora's Box – Organization, memory and patience are key to cracking this task – for a delicious reward (usually chocolates or champagne)
Key Skills
As this challenge has many different tasks involved, and can have additional ones added or removed, it has very broad base of skills needed. Common to all tasks are:
- Planning
- Communication
- Use of resources
- Thinking it through
If a particular aspect of team dynamics are required then the brief and tasks can be changed to suit.
Duration / Participants
Flexible, ½ day minimum.
Minimum 8 people.
SATELLITE SALVAGE
Introduction
You are part of a senior team from an international salvage organization ,one of the top five companies in this field in the world. You have been contacted by NASA to assist in their search for the rogue satellite “Andromeda” which has returned to earth prematurely, and broken up on re-entry. 
It has been reported to NASA that sightings of debris falling to earth have been reported in your local area. The debris has subsequently been positively identified as sections of Andromeda. Your objective is to find and retrieve these sections in a seemingly impossible timeframe and using a limited budget.
Details
The team is given a paper based brief which outlines the objectives and constraints. It will become apparent that the task is not possible unless the team plans a strategy, agrees meeting points, timings and who is to find which section of satellite. They must also calculate an accurate tender figure for the salvage operation, taking into account costs of personnel, vehicles, outsourced resources (cartography, radar printouts etc) and time. The team may use their own vehicles for this operation as they will be required to search a lot of ground which is 
impossible to do all on foot. However foot searches have to be done also. During the search process they will receive a message that the reactor section of the satellite has been found and requires urgent attention – just like in a work scenario where another urgent job arrives just when you’re in the thick of something else! This part of the task requires all team member to be present and results in a loud explosion as the reactor is shut down.
Key Skills
Team members will be required to possess:
- Planning skills, seeing the end of the task as well as the immediate
- Budgeting
- Communication ( 2- way radios are also issued to sub-teams)
- Reading the brief is an essential part of this task
- Time management – there are heavy “cash” penalties for bad time planning
Duration / Participants
½ day
8-30 people
ROCKET SCIENCE
Introduction
A budget planning team event where the objective is to negotiate with other teams, make a profit by shrewd dealing and eventually build and launch a working rocket! This event will involve all members of teams as there is something here for everyone – even the shy ones and the tech-heads. This event works best with a large number of people – recommended over 25.
Details
Teams are issued a written brief and a wad of money. After a short while the action commences with an auction for rocket parts, the only 
constraint is that the parts are batched – so a team can only buy the tail planes, for example. They then have to barter or sell these parts to other teams in order to buy the other parts needed. There are many parts so one team cannot monopolize the parts supply. After the sale is over there is a period where the teams negotiate with each other and trade parts. It’s up to them how much they buy and sell for, and who they trade with – just as long as there are enough parts to build the thing! When all rockets are constructed, we head outside and 5-4-3-2-1-liftoff! A carefully built rocket can go about 200’ high and is retrieved by a parachute or streamer air brake. Extra money is awarded for a successful launch and accurate landing, with prizes for the winning team.
Key Skills
- Budget planning
- Time management
- Negotiation skills
- Forward thinking
- People management
Duration / Participants
½ day minimum
25 – 200 people
TOMB BUSTER
Introduction
A dynamic, challenging, activity based event where team members must pull together and support each other to break open a sarcophagus containing riches (ok, champagne or chocolate).
Details
An ancient code has been discovered in a local church, which via a series of logic clues using map parchments, local folklore and cunning, leads to discovery of a series of locations. At these locations teams will find either more information, a challenging task (see below) or some equipment to help them in the quest to break the sarcophagus – but first they have to find it!
The sarcophagus itself is underground, so using some handy local experts, the team must descend into a cave and retrieve the box. Unfortunately it is sealed, and in order to safely remove the seal they must obtain some more equipment – a detonation console, a key, some safety gear, 
wire and a code. All these components can be found by a series of active challenges – for instance the code is secreted at a remote but prominent landmark which has to be found via a trek. The console / key could be found down a cliff – so the team must abseil down to it. Naturally full training and supervision is given on all activities, including qualified staff and full safety equipment.
The main activities are:
- Cave exploration
- Abseil
- Navigation
When the team has all the relevant information and equipment, the seal is blown off the sarcophagus using a small explosive charge, and the booty within divided up.
Key Skills
- Logic and deduction
- Mutual support
- Ability to go “out of your comfort zone”
- Planning
- Time management
- Persistence
Duration / Participants
Full day or equivalent. Using more activities could extend this to 2 full days.
Minimum 8, max 30