Usually when December comes around, the Connect Three Countdown begins.  Last year we had elaborate quizzes, a painting class, cake, a trip to a champagne bar, a team meal at an Italian restaurant, a trip to a bowling alley, and our team awards.  This year, we have lockdown so things are a little different...ok, a LOT different.  Our team is currently scattered across the UK, all in different lockdown tiers, so getting together is not an option, but it isn't going to stop us celebrating the amazing things we have achieved this year.

This year we donated what we would have spent on our fancy Italian dinner to the Hospitality Action Invisible Christmas Party Initiative. Hospitality Action's work support members of the hospitality industry whose livelihoods are disappearing at a time when the industry should have been at its busiest. If your company would like to get involved, you can find out more here.

Even with a restaurant meal off the cards, we still managed a team dinner.  Through the magic of Just Eat vouchers, we treated the team and their families to a dinner of their choice.  From sushi, to Peking duck, a pizza an outdoor cinema, and an ambitious munchie box that made us all feel strangely jealous, we didn't have our usual party hats on, but we still connected as best we could.

Then, last week the team were all surprised by a special delivery - an advent calendar in the post!  Mindfulness for Katy, teas for Barbs, and chocolate for David - now we're all set to countdown to Christmas together. We're also still managing a virtual party, secret santa, collaborating on happy playlists which we can all listen to, sharing learning and book suggestions and celebrating birthdays and milestones. We're doing our best to stay together while we're apart.

We love hearing how our clients, suppliers and friends are engaging with their teams during these strange times we're living in.  Your stories inspire us - send us a message on social media and let us know what you've been up to.