In years gone by, every company, regardless of its size held a Christmas party for their staff. For many workers it was one of the rare occasions they got to dine out, so it was an event they looked forward to and would not have dreamed of missing.
Today, things have changed quite a bit. The Covid lockdown effect, remote working and the fact that many companies were tightening their belts led to fewer firms hosting Christmas parties in the UK during 2021 and 2022 than any time in the past. But there are signs that this trend is starting to reverse, especially in Yorkshire.
In 2023, Venue Scanner saw Christmas party bookings start to rise again. Many popular venues were fully booked by September. For 2024, searches on their platform for popular Yorkshire company party venues for early December are already high and some firms have already booked. This is especially true for venues in places like Leeds and York, both of which are nationally renowned for their food and drink scene.
When the consumer organisation Which? Asked its readers which cities were best for weekend breaks York ranked joint 2nd. The city scored especially well when it comes to food and drink. It is full of bars, cafes and restaurants offering an eclectic mix of cuisines, including an increasing number of themed venues. For example, the Viking-themed Valhalla has a function room that is perfect for company parties.
The fact that so many Yorkshire firms have already booked venues for their 2024 Christmas parties is a clear sign that they recognise the benefit of providing an annual party for their staff. Including those firms that have a high percentage of remote workers. Most of them have already tried out the various virtual Christmas party formats during lockdown and beyond only to realise they don´t work that well.
A proper face-to-face Christmas party gets people who work on projects together to talk and connect on a new level. It strengthens existing colleague ties and helps people to form new working relationships. Once back in the workplace, these new acquaintances enjoy further conversations which often leads to them coming up with fresh and highly innovative ideas.
The fact that their employer values them enough to pay for a nice meal out or a fun activity pays dividends. Studies show that employees who feel appreciated are far more productive and less likely to leave.
For Yorkshire-based businesses hosting a face-to-face Christmas party is a particularly good idea. When the University of Cambridge mapped the prevalence of five personality traits, they confirmed that people living in Yorkshire are particularly extroverted.
The poll, which had 400,000 participants, showed that people from Yorkshire are more social, talkative, and outgoing than the rest of the UK. So, instead of their heart sinking when they receive an invitation to the office Christmas party, they actually look forward to it.
However, that is not to say that tastes have not changed. If people are going to give up an evening to spend it with colleagues, they want to have a memorable time. Companies that think creatively and arrange something different are the ones that can expect attendance rates to be high. That could be going to a themed restaurant or arranging an activity before the meal. For example, ice skating at Millenium Square in Leeds or enjoying a festive show at The Crucible in Sheffield before going for a meal.
Timing a company dinner to coincide with Christmas markets and other festive events is also a good way to increase attendance. Gifting employees with a discount code for accommodation helps too.
This opens up the opportunity for employees to enjoy the work Christmas meal on a Friday evening, then spend Saturday exploring the city they are staying in with their family. Perhaps enjoying York´s St Nicholas Fair, seeing Skipton Castle illuminated by Christmas lights or taking a festive steam train ride on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway. Often, the cost of providing the accommodation discount voucher is offset by the company not having to provide transport to and from the Christmas party. Resulting in a win-win for all concerned and everyone feeling that they have gotten value for money.
