As a search marketing agency, it is important that we are always on top of the latest advancements in online technology, including social media, online news, keeping up with relevant blogs, content creation and so on. So as a fairly social company, it seemed that not only should we be doing the best for our clients, but we should also be social from within – introducing our ‘Search Labs Social Committee’:
We started our Social Committee in November 2011 and the basic details are as follows:
It is run for the staff by the staff. We try to organise a different social event one evening each month and vary what we do as much as possible. It is important in such a fast growing and dynamic industry that the team remains a team and that we do not end up becoming ‘departments’ that do not interact with one another.
Here is just a small update on how we are getting on:
November saw Pete Whitmarsh (Head of PPC), John Michael (PPC Account Manager) and Natalie Bell (Senior Off-Page SEO Exec) help organise a comedy club night at Jongeleurs in Leeds. It was a great success; everyone had food, drinks and a good laugh (sometimes with the comedians and sometimes at them)!
Then came December which of course was our company Christmas party at PPIK Go Karting and then onwards to Tiger Tiger. A 70’s and 80’s themed evening with Trivial Pursuit, Connect 4 and Space Hopper racing. It was a fun filled evening with prizes, food and dancing!
January took us bowling, organised by Shirley Brook (Accounts Administrator) and Mike Turner (Off-Page SEO Executive). Six teams, curly fries and some sore losers! Team 5 were the overall team winners with an excellent combined score of 1287! – Never mind Terry, better luck next time! The Champion of Champions was our CEO Ian Harris who’s highest score was 176.
An apparently quieter affair took place for February in the form of a games night after work; arranged by Gwilym Thomas (PPC Account Manager), Arron Brown (SEO Account Manager), Phil Black (PPC Account Manager) and Elliott Watson (Business Development Manager). Everyone brought in a good old fashioned game and we all had a great time; darts here and Giant Jenga there. There was a Trivial Pursuit, Giant Connect 4 and the overindulgence (by most people) on pizza and crisps.
The Sunday Times Top 100 Best Companies Awards came to a head in March with Search Laboratory being named the 10th Best Small Company to Work For 2012. Therefore, in true Search Labs style, our CEO wanted to say ‘Thank You’ to all the staff who helped us achieve this prestigious award by organising a dinner (and a) party. As usual, it was an excellent evening filled with food, karaoke and plenty of laughs.
And finally…
An extra little bit of fun came in the form of Sports Relief on Friday 23rd March. Search Laboratory employees were invited to come to work in sportswear or dress as their sporting hero for a donation to the charity. We also had Kinect Sports on throughout the day so each person could have a go at getting the fastest time on the Kinect Sports Hurdles. Each attempt added an extra 50p to Sports Relief. As it turns out, we have some fairly competitive (now poorer) members of staff.
We then discovered that our Technical Manager Paul Shearing had chickened out of wearing his wetsuit, so we raised the stakes. If we could raise another £100 for Sports Relief, he would have to don his wetsuit, parade around the office and then have a go on the Kinect for all to laugh at! I think this photo speaks for itself…
Paul sporting the wetsuit with one of our Senior Off-Page Executives Dave Harrison.
Since we have implemented our social committee, there has been an obvious increase and improvement in internal communications. Above all, by keeping your staff happy and allowing some fun every now and then, we will only increase productivity and maintain the good office vibe. The proof is in the pudding.
With the continued growth of the company it will be interesting to see what other suggestions are put forward throughout the year. There has already been talk of sumo wrestling and ghost walks!
If you have any great office social suggestions we’d love to hear them – please leave us your comments below.
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