Team Building Trends: Corporate Cookery Classes

One of the most popular current trends in the team building field is corporate cookery classes. At these events, staff are able to work together to prepare a meal from scratch, which they can all then sit down with together and enjoy.

What Does a Corporate Cookery Class Involve?

The emphasis is on fun, relaxation and enjoyment. Rather than mindless amounts of chopping or arm-straining mixing, participants are invited to ‘sip and stir,’ enjoying fine wines as they cook in a state-of-the-art kitchen. At the end of their session, hungry, fully relaxed teams sit down together and are served the gourmet food they have created themselves.

Nothing is prepared in advance so that the pleasure of the cooking process is fully experienced. Different levels of culinary skill are accounted for, with seasoned cooks exposed to trade secrets and beginners able to get stuck in to well structured recipes. A team of chefs are also provided for each client to ensure the creation of the meal is both enjoyable and effortless.

Teams will work together, building on individuals’ strengths and weaknesses and communicating as effectively as possible to work towards making an enjoyable meal.

Why Do Corporate Cookery Classes Work?

There are a number of reasons why cookery team building exercises are so popular and work so well for so many businesses. Here are just a few:

-Food is something that everyone has in common.
-Cooking is something everyone can get involved with, unlike some sports-based events, for example, which make some staff feel uncomfortable.
-Working together on a recipe is a focused way for staff to bond and get to know each other.
-A corporate cookery class is an unusual and fun day out and a treat for staff which makes them feel valued.
-The cookery-based exercises encourage employees to communicate with each other.
-Cooking boosts team morale and gives people a sense of achievement.

Making the Most of a Corporate Cookery Event

Although a corporate cookery event is about creating a delicious meal, there are also the long-term business benefits to bear in mind. There are a few things you could consider doing to capitalize on the day’s activities.

You could, for example, divide employees into teams and introduce a competitive element. The chef could choose the best dish or staff could secretly mark each others’ dishes as they do on the TV show Come Dine with Me.

Judging criteria could also include:

-How well staff planned before they started cooking
-How well they communicated
-Creativity and initiative

Corporate cookery classes are a good way to enjoy a fun day out and a meal as a company, as well as to boost team morale and communication.

Venturi’s Table is London’s first Corporate Cookery Centre, custom-built to provide fun cookery experiences for groups of business professionals. Go to the Venturi’s Table website for more details.