Team Kick-Offs are strange beasts. At their worst, they’re long days of sitting, listening and politely clapping. Well-intentioned, neatly packaged, and oddly draining. You leave knowing more but feeling… not much.

That’s never really been our style at Verve. So, this year, we asked a different question…

‍

What if we treated Kick-Off the same way we try to run the business: listening properly, trying things out and building it together?

That question became the foundation for Kick-Off 2026: Verve Unleashed. A day designed not to talk at our team about the future, but to build it with them.

There was magic, merch, puppies, even a surprise dance-off (it is Verve after all). But there was also strategy, clarity, challenge and a lot of energy.

Here’s how and why we did it the way we did.

‍

Built by feedback, not assumptions.

Before we started planning, we asked our team what they wanted from this year’s Kick-Off event. Last year’s feedback didn’t disappear into a spreadsheet graveyard, It became the blueprint for 2026. We made that visible on the day through simple ‘You said / we did’ posters around the room, showing exactly how their ideas from 2025 had shaped changes at Verve and this year’s agenda.

What came through loud and clear was a desire for more interaction, clearer direction, wellbeing that felt meaningful, and proper time to connect - not just sit and listen.  

We really embraced this feedback when designing the event, with the intention that if our team felt they personally contributed to shaping the event and the year ahead, they'll show up enthusiastically in the work that follows too.

‍

Energy first. Then everything else.

The day started the way we wanted the year to feel - relaxed, human and energised.  

That meant breakfast, coffee, space to arrive - and absolutely no racing straight into slides. Even breakfast was deliberate, after last year’s now-infamous ‘Granola-gate’, we ran a Teams poll so people could tell us exactly what they wanted. Healthy fuel and treats were both represented - with bacon butties coming out firmly on top.

From there, we kicked off with a bite-size Town Hall and a look at Verve’s longer-term direction. Cathi talked about why looking back matters, not to dwell, but to recognise how far we’ve come, what we’ve learned and the confidence that comes from building something over time.

The focus wasn’t on numbers or targets, but on intent. Growing in a way that feels sustainable, people-led and grounded in what we already know and do well.

‍

Human connection isn’t “soft” - it’s powerful

One message from past feedback was clear: connection matters. Especially as teams grow and ways of working evolve.

That’s why we invited Di Gates, founder of Connection Heroes, to explore the power of human connection at work - not in a fluffy or abstract way, but through neuroscience, practical tools and honest conversations about what pulls us into our “red zones”, and how we get back to our best.

It landed because it felt relevant to where Verve is right now. And because it treated connection as a skill we can build, not a personality trait you either have or don’t.

‍

Less sitting. More doing.

Another clear ask from the team was less listening and more action.

The afternoon focused on turning big-picture ambitions into something practical and relevant. Department sessions explored priorities, barriers and what we need to keep, stop and start as we move forward.

Alongside that, wellbeing sessions were woven into the afternoon. People rotated between:

• gentle movement (which accidentally became a full-blown dance-off - video evidence under lock & key)

• dog walks and creature comforts

• magic workshops (yes, really)

• space to breathe, move, laugh and reset

No one was glued to a chair for hours - and it reinforced something we talk about a lot at Verve: feeling good at work isn’t a distraction from doing good work. It’s part of it.

‍

Play has a purpose.

We avoided forced fun and awkward icebreakers entirely. Instead, we focused on creating the conditions where play could happen naturally. Shared moments, games to pick up and play over breaks, light challenges, movement breaks and space to just be human together.

Some of the best moments weren’t planned at all. They happened when people felt comfortable enough to be themselves - which is usually when the good stuff (and the best GIFs) show up... like Cathi celebrating our latest EMI share scheme milestone with money guns and peak Verve energy. Click here to see the full GIF in action!

‍

Still learning. Still listening.

One thing we’re very clear on: Kick-Off isn’t a finished product.

We’ve already had thoughtful, honest feedback, and not all of it was “everything was perfect”, which is exactly how we like it. Some people loved staying deep in department conversations; others missed being mixed more across teams. The wellbeing sessions were a hit, and many wished they were longer. The dog walks? Slightly less “walk” and more “stand around with dogs” thanks to the weather. Lesson learned.

There were great ideas too. Shorter games throughout the day. Breaking longer sessions into smaller chunks. More regular coffee breaks. Clearer Plan Bs when the weather does its thing. (Branded Verve raincoats, anyone?!)

That doesn’t feel like criticism, it feels like trust. Designing culture, much like designing events, is never really “done”. It’s something you keep checking in on, testing, tweaking and improving over time.

Kick-Off isn't about putting a bow on culture and calling it finished, although that would make my job easier. It was about setting the tone for the year ahead and building on strong foundations, together.

And yes… planning for Kick-Off 2027 has already started. Watch this space!

Check out Cathi's blog for more on why we do Kick-Off, and the impact it has on the team and the year ahead.