As recruitment budgets are slashed in the wake of the recession, businesses are instead choosing to invest in their existing staff to strengthen the workforce – and one corporate venue is responding to the challenge.
The Colloquy, an independent corporate retreat on the Herefordshire Welsh borders, has unveiled a new residential events package that has been designed specifically with tightened company purse-strings in mind.
The new corporate deal offers a ‘one-stop shop’ for any company looking for affordable but bespoke residential training or conferencing solutions. It includes:
• A 3 day / 2 night residential stay for one company with up to 16 delegates
• 5 meeting rooms available for the duration of the stay including one with full Microsoft Works, Wi-Fi connection and internet connectivity with OHP
• Full use of The Colloquy’s luxury grounds and facilities
• Fully-catered stay with two cooked meals plus continental breakfast, tea & coffee
• A half-day outdoor team-bonding activity of your choice in Herefordshire for up to 16 people
• Transport to and from Hereford or Leominster train stations (if required)
The cost of the 3 day package starts at £550 per person (excluding VAT) subject to availability and number of delegates attending.
The beauty of this new corporate package from The Colloquy is that it combines great value for money with the personal touch and flexibility that a bespoke, independent venue like The Colloquy can provide.
Owner Jo Hilditch, who devised the recession-friendly package, comments: “With the paring back of recruitment budgets, we have noticed that our corporate clients are preferring to invest in their current employees.”
She continues, “A residential training event is still one the best ways to engage and motivate staff and improve the quality of your workforce. It provides dedicated, uninterrupted time for a team to review, plan and bond with each other. Choosing an independent venue like The Colloquy gives you the space and freedom to create a tailor-made event that suits your business to a tee.”
The venue
Just 3 hours from London, 2½ hours from Manchester and 1½ hours from Birmingham, The Colloquy provides a unique setting for conferences, meetings, training and management courses or business hospitality events. Situated on the Whittern Estate on the outskirts of Lyonshall, this converted Victorian stable block and is full of rustic charm.
But behind the traditional delights of this period property, there lies a fully-equipped venue with 21st Century comforts and mod cons.
• There are 5 flexible meeting rooms available in the property that can suit a variety of event styles and formats and can accommodate between 2 and 16 delegates. Guests can also hold al fresco meetings on the stone terrace. Facilities include a fully equipped media centre, broadband and a wireless router.
• The Colloquy has 8 super king-sized double bedrooms, all with an en suite bathroom or wetroom. There are an additional 2 bedrooms in The Forge and 3 bedrooms in The Gardener’s Cottage, all on the same site. A further 10 bedrooms are available on the Whittern Estate, with only a short drive linking the properties.
• Delegates can enjoy The Colloquy’s heated pool, sauna, hot tub or private squash court. The local area also boasts a huge range of outdoor activities – from rafting, biking, go-karting, horse riding and golf to gorge walking, high wire activities, clay-pigeon shooting, mountain-biking and canoeing.
• Companies can choose full-catering, individually catered meals or self-catering during their stay, giving delegates the freedom to create an event that’s just right for them.
