Out of office – a look at our studio away days
From photography challenges across Manchester and Leeds to a windswept hike in Wicklow, our teams swapped their usual surroundings for a day of outdoor challenges and a chance to catch up beyond the office.
A change of scenery can be a welcome thing, particularly when it comes with a team challenge, a few unexpected detours and the promise of good food at the finish line.
Over the past few months, teams across our studios took a break from their usual routines. Each studio had its own plans, with everything from city-wide scavenger hunts to a hike in the Wicklow mountains. While the plans varied from studio to studio, a healthy dose of friendly competition proved to be a common thread.
London, say cheese
The London team took to the streets for a city-wide photography scavenger hunt, exploring the capital in search of the perfect shots. The challenge put creative thinking and local knowledge to the test, with teams finding different ways to capture the city along the way.
After a busy day exploring, the group headed to the Wapping Tavern for ping pong, pool and pizza. A chance to unwind, enjoy some friendly competition and round off the day in good company.
Spending time together beyond the day-to-day is an important part of life at Civic. Our away days give colleagues the opportunity to connect and strengthen relationships with the people behind the projects in a different setting.
The north gets snapping
The Manchester and Leeds studios joined forces in Leeds for a photography scavenger hunt of their own, taking teams across the city to capture a selection of sights and hidden gems. There were a few different approaches to the challenge, with some teams finding time for a leisurely pub stop while others made a last-minute dash to get their final photographs in before the deadline.
The day finished at Northern Monk, where the group enjoyed paella in the sunshine, drinks and an awards ceremony recognising the day's winning entries.
Ireland takes a walk on the wild side
Over in Ireland, the team headed to Glendalough in County Wicklow for a hike through some of the country's most impressive scenery. The views were certainly worth the walk, although conditions at the mountain peak added an extra challenge, with winds reaching around 100mph.
With hats clung to and balance tested, everyone made it safely back down before heading to The Blue Light for some post-hike quizzing.
Whether exploring familiar cities from a new perspective or taking on the elements in the Wicklow mountains, Civic’s away days are a reminder that strong working relationships are built in all sorts of ways. Bringing colleagues together beyond their usual routines helps strengthen the connections that support collaboration across our studios and the work we do.
