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Competitive vs Collaborative Team Building
Team building activities come in all shapes and sizes – some important things to think about:
- Indoors or Outdoors? (What time of year is it?)
- Sporty or Creative? (What are your group’s interests?)
- Half Day or Full Day? (What fits into your itinerary?)
- Competitive or Collaborative? (What’s better?)
Competitive Team Building
In a competitive team building event, a group will be split into smaller teams to compete against each other. Depending on their chosen activities, teams may be faced head to head on an inflatable volleyball court or scored against each other on the taste of their Chocolates!
Competitive activities are great fun and perfect for certain types of teams (especially those who work in a competitive environment on a day to day basis), however they aren’t for everyone!
Collaborative Team Building
Collaboration is essential for organisations to maximise the effectiveness of their communication and teamwork. Collaborative team events are an effective way for teams to focus on the benefits that come from working together towards one common goal!
Amongst our portfolio of team building activities, we have a number of options that promote the idea of working as a one team to achieve a task, such as our Together We Can event. By stripping away the competitive element, a team can function in a way that sees them support and help each other throughout the duration of a task.
So back to the question, what’s better - competitive or collaborative team building?
If you’re looking at simply having some fun with your colleagues, then either type of event will appeal to those participating, however if you are looking to meet specific objectives for your event then you will need to think about which type will allow you to do this! Friendly competition in a relaxed setting, encourages people to work together and spend time together, which helps build cooperation!
“Competition has been shown to be useful up to a certain point and no further, but cooperation, which is the thing we must strive for today, begins where competition leaves off.” ― Franklin D. Roosevelt
To find out what team building activities will suit your group, give our events team a call on 01590 676599.
Indoor
Trial By Jury
Overview
Do You Find The Defendant Guilty... or Not Guilty?
All rise for Judge Granville Howe… You’re the jury in this riveting variation of our Murder Mystery evening. The judge presents the background to an intriguing case and three witnesses are called to the ‘dock' between courses to give their account of events…
Listen to the cross examination before questioning the defendant yourself. Work as a team to analyse the evidence – put searching questions to witnesses and the accused. Piece together the witnesses’ accounts and determine who’s telling the truth. Whose story doesn’t add up, what are they trying to hide..?
About
Event Format
At the venue of your choice we set up a judge’s ‘bench’ and defendants’ ‘dock’. You’ll be greeted by Judge Howe in full court dress, red robes and wig; make sure you call him “m’lord” - you don’t want to end up in the dock yourself! You’ll be seated on team tables and each table acts a member of the jury.
Judge Howe explains the case to you, the court, and between courses the story unfolds. The defendant, Gavin Wily, is accused of the murder of newly crowned snooker champion Johnny Redman. Redman beat Wily to the £100,000 prize earlier that evening. Witnesses include a pub’s landlord, and Wily’s mistress and brooding wife.
The plot twists and turns as the witnesses come out with their statements. You’ll have to use your nous to deduce the truth! After you, the jury, pass your verdict the judge breaks the fourth wall and explains whether you’ve been successful in sleuthing out the truth. Have you convicted an innocent man, or let a crafty killer loose?!
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About
More Details
This interactive and entertaining event works brilliantly over dinner, you’ll be amused and bemused by the strangely sordid facts of the case; a love triangle, a milk float hit-and-run, a dead dachshund and a man ‘as-salted’ with a porcelain peanut bowl… When the gavel comes down will you have put the right person away?
How it works
How does Trial By Jury work?
Trial By Jury is an evening team building event for 10 to 150 people, a courtroom twist on our Murder Mystery where your guests are the jury in a murder trial played out between courses. It lasts 2 to 3 hours. Here's how it runs.
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All rise
Judge Granville Howe presents the background to the case: Gavin Wily is accused of murdering newly crowned snooker champion Johnny Redman.
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Hear the witnesses
Between courses, three witnesses, including a pub landlord and Wily's mistress and wife, take the stand to give their account.
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Cross-examine
Guests listen to the cross-examination, then question the witnesses and the defendant themselves.
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Weigh the evidence
Each table works as a team to analyse the evidence and decide whose story doesn't add up.
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The verdict
The jury passes its verdict, and the judge reveals whether you've convicted an innocent man or let a killer loose.
What's included
What's included with Trial By Jury?
Trial By Jury includes a full courtroom cast and case notes.
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Judge and characters
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Case notes
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Event management and instruction
Optional extras
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Event photography or filming
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Upgraded prizes: champagne, chocolates or trophies
Benefits
What are the benefits of Trial By Jury?
Trial By Jury is an interactive dinner event with broad appeal that builds teamwork and problem solving as guests work out the truth.
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Teamwork
Each table pools its observations to reach a verdict.
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Over dinner
The case unfolds between courses, so it fits naturally around your meal.
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Broad appeal
Amusing, bemusing and easy for everyone to join in.
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Problem solving
Guests question, analyse and deduce to find the truth.
Yesterday’s Trial by Jury event was thoroughly enjoyed and please pass on our thanks to the cast who delivered their roles with real enthusiasm. There were some lovely touches to create interest and it was great that the cast were able to respond to questions in a way that developed the storyline and sense of character. The Judge, in particular, did a great job of leading the event.
Kent University
FAQs
Trial By Jury: Frequently Asked Questions
Guests become the jury in an interactive fictional murder trial. Judge Granville Howe introduces the case, witnesses give evidence between dinner courses and each table works together to decide whether the defendant is guilty.
The defendant, Gavin Wily, is accused of murdering newly crowned snooker champion Johnny Redman after losing a £100,000 prize. Witnesses connected to the evening offer competing accounts of what happened.
Yes. Teams listen to the cross-examination and can put their own questions to the witnesses and defendant. Careful questioning may expose contradictions that were not obvious in the prepared statements.
No. Professional performers take the main court roles, while guests participate as jury tables. Their job is to listen, discuss the evidence, ask useful questions and reach a verdict.
The case unfolds between courses. Witness appearances and courtroom scenes alternate with the meal, giving each jury table time to discuss the latest evidence before the next part of the story begins.
Once the tables decide whether the defendant is guilty, the judge reveals what actually happened. Guests then discover whether they convicted the correct person, released a murderer or became distracted by a convincing witness.
It shares the theatrical intrigue of a Murder Mystery, but the courtroom format changes how guests participate. Instead of searching a venue for clues, teams analyse testimony, question characters and reach a formal verdict.
Yes. A suitable dining or function room can be arranged with the judge's bench, defendant's dock and jury tables, bringing the fictional courtroom to venues around the UK.
The complete dinner experience normally lasts approximately two to three hours, allowing the plot to unfold naturally between courses.
Trial By Jury is suitable for approximately 10 to 150 guests. Each table acts as a jury team, making it practical for both smaller corporate dinners and larger evening events.