Over some twenty years in the event business, we have helped numerous charities, good causes and community groups to raise some substantial funds through some imaginative events.
One of our specialities is organising road running events. We currently manage some eight different road racing events - covering distances from 5K through to half marathon.
Road running is a specialist area of event management and organisers really need to be experienced to maximise the benefits both to particpants as well to the beneficiaries. In addition to an established marketing programme to attract particpants, including a substantial database of runners, we have experienced marshals and officials to help ensure the event runs smoothly as well as the neccessary timing and results software.
Our next event is the Lydd Half Marathon which takes place on March 9th 2008. The race was once one of the most popular road running events in the Kent, regularly attracting large numbers of runners from all over the world, until the race ceased in the mid 1990's. It is being held in conjunction with Lydd Town Council and will be looking to raise funds for the Mayor of Lydd's designated local charities and good causes.
If you'd like to discuss staging a road running race to raise funds for your charity or organsiation, then get in touch with us and we'll see if we can help.
Monday, 7 January 2008
Thursday, 3 January 2008
Where will you take your company in 2008?
After more than 20 years of managing and organising events both in the UK and overseas, our Events team has built up a wealth of experience, knowledge and expertise that’s second to none.
We work closely with all our clients providing a high level of personal service to ensure that your event goes exactly to plan. We believe that sound preparation and strong management are preferable to luck, a wing and a prayer!Over the last 20 or so years, we've worked in most major European locations and we can advise on a wide range of activities to interst or excite your customers or staff. In addition to getting you and your guests to the venue, we can arrange a comprehensive social programme around your meeting - to include teambuilding, sporting and social events such as golf, maybe a theatre trip, fine dining and hospitality.
Our marketing background means we are able to offer a meeting planning service which can include assistance with your presentations as well as hosting and facilitating services. Plus we can help with putting together all the communications required to ensure that everybody arrives on time and in the right place!
(Above: Tromso in the Arctic Circle - one of our 2008 destinations)
If you're thinking of some interesting destinations for your company this year, why not take a look at some of our 2008 ideas?
Sales incentive programmes
Meeting in Bruges
Minimum numbers 12
This year we will be working on events throughout the UK and in locations throughout Europe – from the Arctic Circle to Southern Ireland! We are experienced at presenting and arranging sales, staff and management conferences and we also manage and organise customer and staff incentive and hospitality programmes.
We work closely with all our clients providing a high level of personal service to ensure that your event goes exactly to plan. We believe that sound preparation and strong management are preferable to luck, a wing and a prayer!Over the last 20 or so years, we've worked in most major European locations and we can advise on a wide range of activities to interst or excite your customers or staff. In addition to getting you and your guests to the venue, we can arrange a comprehensive social programme around your meeting - to include teambuilding, sporting and social events such as golf, maybe a theatre trip, fine dining and hospitality.
Our marketing background means we are able to offer a meeting planning service which can include assistance with your presentations as well as hosting and facilitating services. Plus we can help with putting together all the communications required to ensure that everybody arrives on time and in the right place!
(Above: Tromso in the Arctic Circle - one of our 2008 destinations)If you're thinking of some interesting destinations for your company this year, why not take a look at some of our 2008 ideas?
Sales incentive programmes
Incentives are a speciality of ours and, in addition to destination and location management, we provide a comprehensive marketing and communications service to participants as well as the delivery of all the awards. Recent promotions that we've managed on behalf of clients include those providing a top prize of a weekend in Europe plus a host of Experience Days including Clay Pigeon Shooting, Driving a Ferrari and Wine Tasting! Each of the Experience Days is also personally managed by ourselves to ensure that our client’s interests are best served.
This year we are organising group travel to locations in the UK, France, Belgium, Holland, Luxembourg, Italy and Ireland – that’s so far! Northern Europe offers superb value for money at the moment and a meeting in Bruges, Le Touquet or Brussels can often work out cheaper than some local venues. And don't be put off by numbers - we have taken groups as small as four for sales, management and partner conferences and meetings.
Meeting in Bruges
We are frequent visitors to Bruges and our clients always thoroughly enjoy their stay in the 'Venice of the north'. Bruges offers some great value meeting facilities and there are a number of high quality hotels that are ideal for meetings and sales conferences of all sizes. With a journey time of just over the hour from Calais by road it's a very 'do-able' short visit destination. Flights to Ostend airport also leave you with a quick transfer time to the city centre.
A two day/one night meeting in Bruges is available on a budget as little as £150 per person, including transport to Bruges, meeting facilities and overnight accommodation. Out of hours socialising is great in Bruges with some superb restaurants, bars and, of course, delightful shopping!
If Bruges appeals why not consider combining a staff, management or client trip to coincide with the Christmas Markets? It might seem a long way off - but there's no substitute for long-term planning!!
Minimum numbers 4
Meeting and fine dining in Northern France
One of our favourite locations in France is Montreuil-sur-Mer and we've been taking groups for both business and social purposes to this lovely walled town for many years now.
Montreuil is situated an hour from the channel ports and whilst it can be reached with ease for a one day trip, overnight is better! The town has a fabulous reputation for its restaurants and its proximity to Le Touquet makes it an ideal destination for those who wish to combine business with a spot of golfing.
Minimum numbers 12
A Day at the Races
There’s not a lot to beat a day at the races! Goodwood, Folkestone, Epsom, Plumpton – and other courses are available for midweek or weekend trips. Our minimum numbers are low with party sizes of just 15 available. A Day at the Races not only offers the very best in top-class racing, but will be one of the highlights of your organisation’s social calendar.
We will arrange transport and your day can start with breakfast, lunch or supper so that we arrive in good time for the first race. We’ll arrange tickets including access to your preferred viewing areas, including the Parade Ring and Winners Enclosure.
Your Day at the Races package includes:
Luxury coach transport to and from your chosen location
Welcome aboard pack – including free goodies
Admission to the racecourse
The services of guides throughout the trip
Optional meals en route or picnic
At the end of the meeting, we will return you safely home – or you can continue the entertainment with post race dinner or entertainment. Each of our Day at the Races events is a bespoke service – designed to suit the needs of you and your guests.
Some other great ideas to think about
We also have some great itineraries for Ireland, Holland, Iceland and Germany - and we can also put together some exciting programmes in some great value city destinations overseas such as Prague, Warsaw, Krakow and Lisbon.
Why not contact us for a chat about the location of your next customer or staff incentive event?
Wednesday, 12 December 2007
Christmas is coming ....
We've almost finished our Christmas season and we're delighted to have been involved in a number of different types of events.
In the Nice Work (a Diligence sister company) diary this month we have a couple of shopping/wine and dine trips to Northern France. Channel hopping will always be popular here in the south east, with a number of companies using it as a vehicle for client entertaining and staff rewarding. Our favoured destinations are Northern France, using Montreuil-sur-Mer and Le Touquet as a base, and Bruges.
We've also got Christmas Quizzes, Race Nights, Casino Nights - and even a night of Snail racing for one Kent-based client.
So, if you’re looking for something different to reward or entertain your staff or clients, you should talk to Diligence. We’ve got the ideas, we’ve got the experience; and we’ve got a pricing structure to suit all budgets.
We can help you devise a special incentive scheme for your clients or customers, providing guidance on setting your objectives and measurement criteria as well as sourcing the rewards to fit within your budget, whether these are gift or experience based.
Diligence can manage the communications and keep you informed through effective reporting of what items have been used, how many and at what value.
For experienced based rewards, we can offer a range from Party events to special overseas conference and incentive trips.
Our free venue-finding service will help find the right place for you to celebrate your event for staff and customers. We actively manage the arrangements both prior to the event and on the night, to ensure that your function meets all your objectives.
For more information, click here to visit http://www.diligencegroup.co.uk/
In the Nice Work (a Diligence sister company) diary this month we have a couple of shopping/wine and dine trips to Northern France. Channel hopping will always be popular here in the south east, with a number of companies using it as a vehicle for client entertaining and staff rewarding. Our favoured destinations are Northern France, using Montreuil-sur-Mer and Le Touquet as a base, and Bruges.
We've also got Christmas Quizzes, Race Nights, Casino Nights - and even a night of Snail racing for one Kent-based client.
So, if you’re looking for something different to reward or entertain your staff or clients, you should talk to Diligence. We’ve got the ideas, we’ve got the experience; and we’ve got a pricing structure to suit all budgets.
We can help you devise a special incentive scheme for your clients or customers, providing guidance on setting your objectives and measurement criteria as well as sourcing the rewards to fit within your budget, whether these are gift or experience based.
Diligence can manage the communications and keep you informed through effective reporting of what items have been used, how many and at what value.
For experienced based rewards, we can offer a range from Party events to special overseas conference and incentive trips.
Our free venue-finding service will help find the right place for you to celebrate your event for staff and customers. We actively manage the arrangements both prior to the event and on the night, to ensure that your function meets all your objectives.
For more information, click here to visit http://www.diligencegroup.co.uk/
Friday, 30 November 2007
The thrill of the turf!
We have extensive experience of working with companies on entertainment evenings and entertaining clients - and, indeed we have over 20 years experience of working with clients in many different industry sectors.
On the other hand we also have many years experience of presenting entertaining, fundraising events for charities, community groups and social clubs. For instance, our Race Nights are extremely popular and we are one of the leading presenters of Race Nights in the south east.
We have successfully adapted the Race Night formula into an entertaining team-building or corporate event. An evening with a mixture of races - including horse, pig and dog races - is an entertaining way to socialise with clients or colleagues.
We provide branded 'Fun Money' and chips for your guests to use - either betting as individuals or betting in syndicates. We also offer a wide range of betting options including Win and Each Way bets; Dual Forecast (bet on the first two horses to finish the race); a Jackpot and an accumulator on two or more races.
Written instructions are provided for guests and we also, if required, provide a running score of winnings so that your guests can see how they are performing in relation to their competitors. There is an element of skill - not just betting (which is pure chance) but on choosing both they type of bet and how much to place on each bet to maximise their chances of finishing ahead of their competing syndicates.
We provide suitable prizes for the winning punters or syndicates - and we also present booby-type prizes for during the evening. We will also provide each syndicate with a Race Card - with race sponsors and horse names that are branded to the company and its guests and which are appropriate to the evening - allowing you to name horses or owners after your guests or their companies. If you are using syndicates, we can also provide signage for you.
The cost for such an evening is relatively modest and includes all the personalised race cards and branded fun money.
Certainly worth considering as part of your 2008 entertaining or teambuilding plans.
On the other hand we also have many years experience of presenting entertaining, fundraising events for charities, community groups and social clubs. For instance, our Race Nights are extremely popular and we are one of the leading presenters of Race Nights in the south east.
We have successfully adapted the Race Night formula into an entertaining team-building or corporate event. An evening with a mixture of races - including horse, pig and dog races - is an entertaining way to socialise with clients or colleagues.
We provide branded 'Fun Money' and chips for your guests to use - either betting as individuals or betting in syndicates. We also offer a wide range of betting options including Win and Each Way bets; Dual Forecast (bet on the first two horses to finish the race); a Jackpot and an accumulator on two or more races.
Written instructions are provided for guests and we also, if required, provide a running score of winnings so that your guests can see how they are performing in relation to their competitors. There is an element of skill - not just betting (which is pure chance) but on choosing both they type of bet and how much to place on each bet to maximise their chances of finishing ahead of their competing syndicates.
We provide suitable prizes for the winning punters or syndicates - and we also present booby-type prizes for during the evening. We will also provide each syndicate with a Race Card - with race sponsors and horse names that are branded to the company and its guests and which are appropriate to the evening - allowing you to name horses or owners after your guests or their companies. If you are using syndicates, we can also provide signage for you.
The cost for such an evening is relatively modest and includes all the personalised race cards and branded fun money.
Certainly worth considering as part of your 2008 entertaining or teambuilding plans.
Tuesday, 14 August 2007
Montenegro
A recent visit to Przno in Montenegro proved that old habits die hard in these former Yugoslav republics!
We arrived in Przno in the early hours of Saturday morning after a three hour flight and a three hour road journey from Dubrovnik which involved crossing the Croatia/Montenegro border. Now, we would hate to reopen old wounds but it isn't five minutes since these two states were part of the same country but you'd think they'd give something up for the sake of good neighbourlyness wouldn't you?
Not a bit of it.
A queue as long as the Adriatic just to cross the border with forms and God knows what else needed. And when we arrived it was like living in a good old-fashioned pre-Cold War state beurocracy. Not one public servant weencountered is able or willing to break into a smile. A four mile stetch of beach and surrounds is out of bounds due to a Government official having his holidays in the place!
But that was nothing to the return journey to Dubrovnik - which took five hours! The border queue was even longer.
A great shame because first and last impressions are so important - and I'm afraid our stay was overshadowed by an unneccessary focus on bearocracy.
Whic is a great shame because Montenegro is a stunning country - worth a try if you can stomach the queues to get in!!
A queue as long as the Adriatic just to cross the border with forms and God knows what else needed. And when we arrived it was like living in a good old-fashioned pre-Cold War state beurocracy. Not one public servant weencountered is able or willing to break into a smile. A four mile stetch of beach and surrounds is out of bounds due to a Government official having his holidays in the place!
But that was nothing to the return journey to Dubrovnik - which took five hours! The border queue was even longer.
A great shame because first and last impressions are so important - and I'm afraid our stay was overshadowed by an unneccessary focus on bearocracy.Whic is a great shame because Montenegro is a stunning country - worth a try if you can stomach the queues to get in!!
Slovenia - an undiscovered jewel?
The opening up of new low-cost flight routes to Eastern Europe and the Balkan states now offers the business and leisure traveller a host of new destinations to choose from.
Slovenia is a relatively new country - but with a rich history. A recent visit to Ljubljana for a site visit has convinced us that here is a great place for conferences, incentive groups or simply as a short-break destination.
EasyJet flies to LJ on a regular basis and the city offers all the friendliness of a small town and at the same time everything that a capital should offer. Apart from the remains of the Romans, it boasts a medieval castle and numerous old city centre Baroque buildings with uneven roofs and richly decorated façades and portals. The mosaic
of Ljubljana is completed by picturesque bridges across the Ljubljanica river and the vast Tivoli park, which extends to the very city centre.
of Ljubljana is completed by picturesque bridges across the Ljubljanica river and the vast Tivoli park, which extends to the very city centre.Ljubljana is a city of culture, which, among other things, boasts one of the oldest philharmonic halls in the world. Every year it hosts more than 10,000 cultural events ranging from concerts, theatre performances and fine art exhibitions, to avant-garde events.
One of the delights of strolling through the city on an evening is the almost complete absence of hordes of British youths taking advantage of the low flight costs and cheap drink. In fact, eating, drinking and staying in Ljubljana is still much lower than almost all other European capitals - and that is despite its membership of the Euro.
Away from the capital, one must-visit place for your itinerary is Bled with its stunning lake and castle. A walk around the lake is a pleasnt way to spend an hour - and if you're feeling energetic then you can take a rowing boat to the island in the lake and visit the pretty chapel.
Hotel accommodation in Slovenia is comfortable and there are some great deals available on conference venues.
If you'd like more information on Ljubljana or Slovenia then contact Nice Work today.
Saturday, 28 July 2007
The new Wembley - a great experience. Almost!!
We visited the new Wembley Stadium recently for a music event.
It truly is a fantastic venue and destined to become just as iconic as the old twin towers. It really was a delightful experience once you reached the stadium - but first you had to reach the thing!
Having a 'car-free' venue is a wonderful idea and one that we could all subscribe to - if the infrastructure was there to support the concept. It might surprise the London-centric numpties who rule the Capital's roads via Transport for London, but, there are still many areas of the country that has no public transport.
And so, transport to the capital has to be by road.
So, what should we do?
We could drive to the outskirts of London and use public transport for the rest of the journey? Many people at the event we attended did just that - and were dismayed to hear, after entering the stadium, that return transport to London on the tube from the stadium station, was unavailable 'due to technical difficulties'!!!
Of course, you can always persevere and drive all the way to Wembley - but, not only is the stadium a 'car-free' zone, the entire area is 'parking-free'!!
An aggressive anti car philosophy is in evidence - with some of the rudest traffic wardens we have ever encountered not only refusing to help with information - but actually refusing to speak to drivers!
So, Wembley Stadium and you transport planners - if you do want to persist with your anti-car policy, for goodness sake, get your act together and give us a fighting chance!
It truly is a fantastic venue and destined to become just as iconic as the old twin towers. It really was a delightful experience once you reached the stadium - but first you had to reach the thing!
Having a 'car-free' venue is a wonderful idea and one that we could all subscribe to - if the infrastructure was there to support the concept. It might surprise the London-centric numpties who rule the Capital's roads via Transport for London, but, there are still many areas of the country that has no public transport.
And so, transport to the capital has to be by road.
So, what should we do?
We could drive to the outskirts of London and use public transport for the rest of the journey? Many people at the event we attended did just that - and were dismayed to hear, after entering the stadium, that return transport to London on the tube from the stadium station, was unavailable 'due to technical difficulties'!!!
Of course, you can always persevere and drive all the way to Wembley - but, not only is the stadium a 'car-free' zone, the entire area is 'parking-free'!!
An aggressive anti car philosophy is in evidence - with some of the rudest traffic wardens we have ever encountered not only refusing to help with information - but actually refusing to speak to drivers!
So, Wembley Stadium and you transport planners - if you do want to persist with your anti-car policy, for goodness sake, get your act together and give us a fighting chance!
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