Discover creative corporate event ideas. Learn how to make your corporate events more memorable!
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Putting on a corporate event is a huge amount of work. The last thing you want is for your event to feel like “the same old”.
You want to reach your goals while making the event memorable, fun and unique. This is where adding creative corporate event ideas comes in.
These are activities, challenges, workshops, and speakers that will stand out and make your event memorable.
Let’s dive in.
Creative corporate event ideas
Corporate events come in all shapes and sizes; each with different stakeholders and different goals. You can check out our separate article on the different types of corporate events.
The secret is to combine the traditional, tried & tested elements of corporate events with new and original concepts. This will make it memorable & unique while keeping the event familiar and effective.
For some general corporate event planning advice, check out our separate article on the topic.
Below we’ve listed creative event ideas for you to try. Depending on the size of your event you might want to try just one or a few.
1. DIY Barista stand
Coffee is a religious experience for a lot of people (including the author). Having high-quality coffee at an event is always appreciated. But why not go one step further and book a full DIY barista stand?
Teach your guests the process of making a great cup of coffee and allow them to get hands-on.
2. Speed-dating activities
Networking is a key component of most corporate events. Stakeholders want to get to know each other & see how they can help each other.
Having networking time is fairly common. However, to make it less formal, and a bit more fun, why not organise a game or activity around it?
It will help break the ice and get more people involved. Here are a few ideas:
- Play a game of “Today I met” (a variation on “I packed my bag”) to see who has the best memory.
- Create a rotation system for quick, 1 minute introductions.
- Have colour-coded stickers/badges for people to recognise different specialities (for example blue for programming and green for marketing..)
3. Social media scavenger hunt
Social media contests are very common at corporate events; especially customer-facing events. It’s an easy way to generate social media engagement & grow brand awareness.
To make it a bit more fun and interesting, why not turn the contest into a scavenger hunt? To win a prize, different teams need to accomplish different tasks such as:
- Sharing pictures from key places in the venue (or even outside)
- Share pictures with different people
- Commenting on the different stalls
You’ll want to find the right balance between making it too difficult (and therefore not worth your guest’s time) and too dull (therefore not worth the attention of your guests).
Pro-tip: create a custom hashtag for the event and ask every submitter to use it. It will make finding the winner a lot easier!
4. Singing waiters
Surprise your guests by booking waiters to spontaneously break into song during the reception!
Singing waiters are always great fun and can be booked to perform different styles of music depending on the style of your event.
If you’re not serving food at your event, you can book surprise singers instead. That is singers who will act as guests or staff members instead.
5. Non-Business Workshops
Why not host a non-business related workshop?
Obviously, for corporate social events, this is a no brainer. But even at business-related events, taking a break from work-related talks is always refreshing.
There is only so much information a person can take before needing to clear their head.
These workshops don’t have to be completely unrelated either. They can be business-adjacent workshops. For example:
- Public speaking workshops
- Productivity workshops
- Improv workshops
- Cooking workshops
To make these a success, you’re going to want to judge your audience carefully. Don’t choose a workshop that’s too far out of their comfort zone.
6. Mannequin challenge
The mannequin challenge went viral in November 2016. Now it feels like the long-lost past. The “been there done that” part of the internet.
However, they’re still fun to do and it’s an easy way to engage everyone.
We recommend that you don’t go over the top. Don’t try to do too much. Keep the camera motion simple as you’ll want to get it done in as few takes as possible.
7. Magician compere
Hire a magician to compère/MC at your corporate event. They’ll perform a magic trick and introduce the next speaker.
It’s something fun and different that will break up the mood.
If you’re based in Ireland, you can book a magician directly through the PartyWizz website, and if you’re in the UK book your magician here.
8. Yoga Class
Plan a yoga class for your guests. This can either be before the event kicks off or, if you have the space & time, during the event.
Of course, you don’t want to make this activity mandatory. But you’ll be surprised at the level of interest this event is likely to generate. Especially if you work in a health-conscious industry.
Pro-tip: To encourage attendance, we recommend that you book a yoga class that’s accessible to beginners, and make sure you let your guests know in advance so they can bring along equipment of their own if they so choose.
9. Fundraising
Host a fundraiser during your corporate event to raise money for charity. Everyone is likely to be in a good mood. It is the perfect opportunity to do some good!
You can view some tips and ideas in our article about hosting a corporate fundraiser.
10. Sightseeing
If your event is being hosted in a historical building (or a building with an exhibition) it would be a shame not to offer the tour to your guests.
This can be an ongoing activity that people can do whenever they want or are available.
Similarly, if your event is being hosted in a tourism hotspot (and your guests are coming from abroad) you could organise bus tours that come and go from the event. Taking guests for a short tour before coming back.
11. Storytellers
Similar to sightseeing, hiring a storyteller is a great way to get to know the traditional stories and legends of the country, area and/or city where your event is hosted.
It’s fun, and informative and it’s a nice relaxing break from pure business talks.
12. Ice cream bar
It’s all in the title.
Set up an ice cream bar for your guests to enjoy. It’s sure to be a hit, especially during the Summer (although ice cream enthusiasts will argue that even in winter it’s worthwhile).
13. Motivational speakers
Think TED talks.
You can hire a motivational speaker to deliver a talk at your event. These keynotes are inspirational, and motivational and give everyone a great energy boost.
While these talks are usually business-related, you may not find one that covers the exact topic of your event. Don’t overthink it. Booking a speaker that covers a generic, motivational topic can be perfect.
14. Stage Shows
It’s pretty common to end an event with a party. This naturally involves a DJ.
However, if you want something a bit more original, why not host a show? For example a comedy show, live music or even a full play…. The list of possibilities is endless. Your audience will remember it forever.
You can also follow up the show with a traditional party if you’re inclined to do so.
15. Photo booths
Photobooths are very popular for social events. But actually, there are very few events that a photo booth can’t liven up.
When it comes to corporate events, it’s worth going the extra mile to make them feel even more special. Here are a few things you might want to do:
- Get a custom background. For example, this could be a printed banner.
- Get custom props that are related to your event theme, company and/or event.
- Branded prints. Some photo booths allow you to add your company logo directly to the pictures when they’re printed. A perfect giveaway!
You can book a photo booth directly through the PartyWizz website.
Pro-tip: If you want professional pictures of the event, you’re still going to want a photographer.
16. VR arcades
You might have a business use case for VR… But you can also set up a VR stand just for fun games and activities.
VR is becoming more and more popular but it’s still new enough to be a novelty experience.
17. Virgin Cocktail Bar
Of course, if your event is a party, you can do an alcohol cocktail bar.
However, for non-social events, cocktails tend to slow down work… And encourage naps in the middle of the afternoon! To circumvent that problem, you can opt for a virgin cocktail bar instead.
Bonus: It’s a great way to add colour to your event, as everyone will be holding a colourful drink/fruit juice.
18. Ball pit
Yes for adults.
Depending on where your event is being hosted, you should be able to rent a ball pit for the day. This is ideal for the meeting area….
Expect some great pictures of well-dressed people hosting meetings in a colourful ball pit. It’s silly, unusual and it’ll definitely make it onto social media!
19. Unannounced Pub Quiz
Hosting a pub quiz is a lot of fun but it’s become fairly common.
To give it a bit of a twist, turn it into an unannounced pub quiz. Simply host the quiz as a surprise between speakers. It’s an easy way to liven up the room between two presentations.
As a variation, you can also break up the pub quiz into multiple sessions holding each session between a talk.
20. Food Trucks
If you’re looking for something a little more exciting than the standard corporate event buffet, then why not have a food truck as part of your event? The options are endless when it comes to what food can be served from the side of a truck. Depending on your budget you could invite a variety of food trucks offering different cuisines, from gourmet burgers to exotic international dishes.
Consider incorporating themed seating areas or picnic-style setups to enhance the overall experience.
21. Mini Golf
Another great option for breaking up the day, is to consider having a mini golf tournament! Although this is not strictly business, mini golf is a great way to encourage team-building, friendly competition, and networking. You could even go so far as to set up a themed golf course based on your event. Provide scorecards and encourage participants to mingle while enjoying a round of mini golf.
22. Collaborative Wall painting
Promote creativity and collaboration by incorporating a wall painting activity into your corporate event. Set up large canvases or mural walls, and provide attendees with paint, brushes, and other artistic materials. Encourage them to express their ideas, thoughts, or team spirit through collaborative artwork.
This not only serves as a team-building exercise but also creates a unique piece of art that can be displayed in your office space or donated to a local charity. Consider hiring a professional artist to guide the process and ensure a visually stunning outcome.
That’s a Wrap
We hope you find these corporate event ideas useful and are left feeling inspired for your next corporate event!
PartyWizz helps you book the best corporate entertainers and services in UK and Ireland. Whether you are looking for magicians, Caricaturists, or a Comedian, we’ve got you covered! Whether you’re planning a big or small event for your team, go to PartyWizz to find the perfect entertainers for your corporate event.
