Corporate Event

Introduction to Corporate Events

Let’s find your dream corporate events venue today. Not an easy task, is it? Quite a lot of pressure and expectancy involved. If you’ve been asked to find a corporate events venue for an upcoming function, don’t panic. We make venue-finding simple, and with more than 20,000 venues around the country we’ll have something for you wherever you’re searching from.

The thing is: ‘corporate events’ can be plenty of different things. It might be that you need an inspiring meeting venue or space for a summer party drinks reception. Maybe the staff Christmas party is your responsibility, or you’ve got to get on top of a three-day conference. Whatever event type and whatever the challenges, we’ll find the perfect corporate event venues for you.

We’re based in Central London so naturally sourcing the best corporate events London has to offer is our bag. But, the truth is, we work with fantastic venues all over the country and so we’ll be able to help no matter where you’re reaching out from.

But that’s quite enough about corporate events venues for now. It’s time to get started. Simply use our search filters to enter exactly what you need and we’ll put you in touch with venue hosts - for free - in no time.

Types of Corporate Events

There are many types of corporate events that can be planned throughout the year. Lucky for you, VenueScanner can help you secure a corporate event space for every type - whether it’s a party or meeting. We work with lots of different companies on every corporate event type you can imagine. Here are just a few:

Meetings and Presentations:

Whether you’re looking for a quirky co-working space or a traditional boardroom, it doesn’t matter what type of meeting or presentation you’re looking to plan. There are so many incredible corporate venues for you to choose from for your meeting.

Trainings and Workshops:

If you’re a hospitality group looking to plan a wine training session or workshop with your team or you’re looking for a space that works for first aid training, there are plenty of options out there.

Team Away Day:

Planning a company offsite? No problem! There are tonnes of incredible manor houses, hotels, and unique places to book for your presentationteam away day, whether that’s in the UK or internationally.

Summer Party:

Get the entire team together in the sunshine at a cool rooftop bar with views overlooking the city. Summer parties are a great way to prevent burn out and promote team bonding in a relaxed environment.

Product Launch:

Planning a large scale product launch? Looking for a venue that can be customised to your branding? We’ve got a selection of corporate event venues that are perfect for a product launch.

Conference:

If you’re looking for a huge conference centre so you can plan the ultimate three day conference, with state-of-the-art AV equipment and enough space for other companies to set up booths, you’ve come to the right place.

Christmas Party/Dinner Dance:

The most popular corporate event that we see is the Christmas party. And it doesn’t matter if your plan is to take the team for some drinks at the pub or have a festive dinner dance, there’s a Christmas party venue out there for everyone.

Team Activity:

Planning quarterly or bi-annual team activities is a great way to avoid burnout and participate in team building. From adventure days out to cool activity bars, you’ll find something to suit your company’s vibes.

Choosing the Right Venue

When it comes to choosing the right corporate event space, there are a number of factors to take into consideration. One of those is location. It’s important to choose a venue for corporate events that is in a relatively central location to the attendees. It should have public transportation links or parking available. Next is the capacity. Your venue should be able to fit your group comfortably. If you’re only hosting a small event, you should have a room that can seat everyone, but it shouldn’t be too big. On the other hand, if you know you’re going to have a lot of attendees, you want to ensure that there’s enough space for everyone. You’ll also want to enquire about the facilities available. A lot of corporate event spaces will have audio visual capabilities, but you should still find out what exactly they offer. You should also check to see what sort of catering services they have available. Finally, you want to ensure that the venue is accessible. Everyone should be able to have the same experience so making sure there are ramps or lifts is very important.

VenueScanner can help you choose corporate event venues that have everything you need. All you have to do is filter your search with what you’re looking for or fill out one of our Venue Finder forms and we’ll match you with relevant venues. Alternatively, you can use our Concierge service where you’ll have a dedicated account manager find the best venues for your event!

Planning and Organizing

Planning a great corporate event takes time! It all starts with defining your objectives for your event. Are you teaching something? Do you want to promote team building? Are you celebrating something special? Knowing the purpose of your event ahead of time will help you plan more effectively.

Once you know your objectives, it’s time to talk about the budget. It’s important to be realistic yet flexible with your budget. Decide how much you’d like to allocate to your venue and how much you’ll have for extras. Once you and your team have agreed on a budget, it’s time to land on a tentative date. Pick a date for your event and send out a save the date early on to see how many people can tentatively attend. Then you can narrow down your venue selection by seeing who is available to host your event on your preferred date. You may want to be flexible with this if you’re really set on a venue!

The great thing about using VenueScanner is that you can find venues based on your budget and capacity. You can then speak directly with the venue about all of your needs so you can be aligned before you even book!

Catering and Amenities

One thing that is super important when planning a corporate event is whether or not the venue you choose offers catering options. This could be internal catering or the venue will often offer a list of preferred caterers that they use. Some venues allow you to bring your own food, while others will not. You’ll often see that venues will offer food and drink packages or daily delegate rates that include tea and coffee, etc. All you need to do is ask during your enquiry process and the venue will let you know what is and isn’t possible. Most corporate event venues will offer options for specific dietary requirements if you let them know ahead of time.

Technology and Equipment

Corporate event spaces are not complete without necessary tech equipment. When you’re first chatting with the venue, before you book, find out what sort of audio visual equipment and presentation tools it offers. If you’re having people dial in from other places, ensure that video conferencing is possible.

Entertainment and Engagement Activities

Make your corporate event more exciting by planning entertainment and team building activities. You want to find the balance between professional and leisure time. For Christmas parties or dinner dances you can hire a DJ or band. For team away days you can do an activity like a ropes course or hike. Incorporate a mixture of fun activities with some brainstorming sessions to really get the most out of your day.

Marketing and Promotion

Now that your corporate event has been planned, you need to promote it. Market your event, especially if it’s a conference, networking event, or product launch where you’re inviting external people to it. You can do this on social media, via email, or corporate networks. Get the word out about your event so more people attend.

For internal events send out a save the date as soon as you know when your event will be so everyone can mark it in their calendar.

Budgeting and Cost Management

No matter your budget or your event type, you can find a great corporate events venue. To keep your budget in check and manage it effectively, keep things flexible. Companies with smaller budgets may want to consider a minimum spend venue while ones with larger budgets will have more options. VenueScanner can help you find a venue within your budget. If you have a high budget, the Concierge team can not only source a venue for you but can also suggest additional suppliers and entertainment too.

FAQs

Can I plan a corporate event with a small budget?

Yes! If you have a small budget, look for venues that offer a minimum spend instead of a venue hire fee. Minimum spends are an agreed upon price and you can buy drinks and food in order to reach it.

How far in advance do I need to look for a corporate events venue?

It really depends! If you have very specific requirements or a date that isn’t flexible, you’ll want to start planning your event as early as possible. The same goes if you’re planning a Christmas party as many venues fill up really quickly during the festive season. If you’re planning a team activity, you don’t need as much time.

Can I cancel my venue if I need to?

Make sure you discuss cancellation policies with the venue before you book. This will save you from any hidden costs or extortionate cancellation fees.

Corporate Event Recap

Corporate events are super important for every company, no matter the type or size. While each company may plan different corporate events throughout the year and the amount may vary, VenueScanner is here to help! We can connect you with the best corporate event venues whether you’re planning a meeting, Christmas party, product launch, team away day, or networking event. Start looking for your perfect venue now!