There are many advantages to hosting a corporate event. Yes, sometimes they can be challenging, even frustrating, to organise, and if things do go wrong, then people can end up looking like fools, but the advantages frequently outweigh the negatives.
For starters, there’s the publicity. A firm can host a conference or study day, attracting people from any area they choose to target, and will be likely to get mainly positive feedback. Low entry costcoupled with high quality speakers and presentations will naturally lead the delegates to consider they have had value for money.Local media might wish to cover the event, so there is the extra attention that will bring too. A journalist might show an interest in attending, or the company’s communications specialist may be able to submit a piece for publication.
Recruitment opportunities should never be overlooked from a conference, study day or open day event either. Interested members of the public may take a shine to the firm and delegates may decide to apply if a list of current vacancies is included in the goodie bag. The host company, site or campus will be on show to the delegates, and good first impressions will be crucial.
Sponsorship is a key part of organising any conference these days. Appropriate firms are often willing to donate free gifts to make up the delegates’ goodie bags – pens, pads, lanyards, badges – while sending a demonstration team to show off their latest bit of kit to the delegates, who may be receptive to their attentions as a result.
Experience is also a valuable part of helping with any corporate event. There are specialist managers who can be hired to oversee any kind of event, but sometimes the enthusiasm of existing employees can be harnessed to showcase a company’s raw abilities. Using current staff as assistants and hosts also allows the attendees to meet them, giving a better picture of the headline company than having a professional management team handling the hosting.Plus, for the staff, it offers chances to learn new skills or showcase those they don’t often have a chance to use.
For many employees, there is also an element of fun. Free food, an entertaining time and a chance to socialise and the potential for overtime payments are all powerful incentives for staff to offer their time to help out at these events.
Of course, corporate events take many forms. Conferences and study days are but one part of the picture. External facing events like these can be balanced by employee-only Christmas parties, awards dinners, departmental celebrations and team challenges which are organised by, and only open to, existing employees. Other articles on this site will offer some ideas about the best options for corporate events, but no matter which option is offered, these occasions can be both very popular and extremely successful.