The end of financial year is a great time to organise a party or celebration for staff and clients, not only is it a great way to show appreciation for their hard work, it’s a great way to boost morale in the cold winter months and get your team excited about finishing the year on a high. Whether you’re a small business or a large corporate company, thinking outside of the box with work events will be rewarding and exciting for everyone involved so if you are looking to host a party that is more than the typical Friday night drinks, here’s a few suggestions that will leave your employees inspired for the rest of the business year.
Christmas in July
EOFY is deep in the winter season, so outdoor events are not ideal. Why not embrace the chill and emulate the atmosphere of the northern hemisphere winter Christmas? Serve hearty food like roasts with all the trimmings, and warm drinks in front of fireplaces. You can adopt the Christmas narrative as much or as little as you like – decorate with festive décor, provide small gifts for your staff members and even have a visit from Santa. Christmas in July is a great talking point amongst employees and an easy theme that most people will love.
Cocktail Party
Nothing gets employees excited like a cocktail party, it’s the chance to glam up and let their hair down with fellow employees in a relaxed atmosphere. Choose a sophisticated corporate function venue, add high quality canapés, gourmet finger food and premium beverages and you will be sure to have your work colleagues raving long after the event concludes. Cocktail parties are a great way to toast to a year’s hard work and show staff how much you’ve appreciated their dedication and achievements. It’s also a great chance for a mid-year motivational speech to keep morale high for the rest of the year.
Winter Wonderland Event
Another great way to embrace winter in Melbourne without going all ‘Christmas-y’ is with a Winter Wonderland themed party. Decorate with silver trees, twinkling fairy lights and candles to set a romantic atmosphere, while a tall snowman might be popular fun for the young at heart at your event. Enhance the theme further with ice sculptures and snowflakes and suggest a dress code such as white or pale blue. Have winter themed food and drinks such as mulled wine and hearty hot dishes and top it off with band playing Winter themed tunes to dance the night away.
Staff Awards Night
No EOFY party would be complete without acknowledging the staff that made the year what it was, so why not go one step further and create an awards night to celebrate their achievements and success? Along with standard awards such as ‘Best Salesperson’ or ‘Team of the Year’ also consider some more light-hearted awards such as ‘Most Fashionable Employee’, ‘Most Punctual Employee’ or ‘Employee with the Best Lunches’ – this gives everyone a chance to win an award and adds some humour to the night. You could even have a secret ballot where staff members get to vote on particular awards and have a variety of award presenters from senior management down to the receptionist so everyone feels included.
Choose Corporate Function Venue Away from the Office
While many businesses opt to keep things simple and host events in-house if they have the space within the organisation to throw a party, this isn’t always a great solution. Hosting a party in the workplace may impact the vibe of the party as people may feel that they can’t truly unwind and relax. Having a celebration at a corporate function venue outside of the office is a much better solution as it creates a better atmosphere all round as its removed from the office environment, and more suited to having a party and entertaining staff. The things to consider when deciding on your venue are how much space you will need, what type of catering you want, entertainment requirements, and security. Start planning early, do your research and pick a venue that best suits the requirements of your celebration for the ultimate EOFY party experience. Looking for the best corporate function venue Melbourne has on offer? Look no further than Merrimu. With multiple special event spaces available decorated with elegant window dressings, ornate ceilings and stunning period features, we are sure to have the perfect space for your EOFY event. We take special pride in providing the space, privacy and ample parking area for all corporate events in which delegates can feel relaxed and at ease. Contact our experienced events team today and start planning your event.