Events team away day

Silverstone was the destination for Brighter’s latest ‘away day’ as the team met up to plan for the rest of 2024 after a busy year so far.

Following teas and coffees, a tour of the venue and then lunch, Paul Casement (Executive Director - Groups, Meetings and Events) kicked off the day’s agenda in the impressive President’s Suite which sits above the pit wall of the famous track, home of the British Grand Prix.

Priorities for Q3 were shared with the team while also taking a look at what we could be doing better within the business, followed bya forecast for the rest of the year and beyond.

Head of Sales and Account Management Sharon Bannister also gave an update on the business, with a closer look at sales pipeline and activity, bids latest, as well as an intro to the new-look team.

Claire Conboy (Head of Groups, Meetings and Events) and Roberta Parr (Head of Operations – Events) were next to present the Moving Forward section of the day where the 20-odd attendees were taken through the planned timeline following the June rebrand.

This was followed by breakout sessions where the team were able to give feedback across all areas of the business – while being serenaded by the Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR-LMH (Google it!) which was being put through its paces around Silverstone during the course of the day, much to the excitement of a number of Brighter staff – you can try to guess who they were!

A Q&A was next on the agenda before Kate Wolstenholme, Head of Marketing & Proposition, gave a rundown of the work going on behind the scenes, showing examples of newly-branded documents, as well as some fantastic videos which have been created for various bids which are currently ongoing.

The new-look website and social media activity were also highlighted before people were given a rundown of the awards successes so far this year.

Following the business of the day, it was time to check into the Hilton Garden Inn at the other side of the track – where the team were delighted to find they had rooms overlooking the starting grid.

The Brighter team were then welcomed to a drinks reception in the hotel’s restaurant by its Sales Manager Tanice Butler, as well as Silverstone’s Business Development Manager Judi Oliver and Head of Sales at Escapade Silverstone Alexandra Toussaint.

The group were lucky to get a look around Escapade Silverstone – a village of 60 new private trackside apartments (with between two and four bedrooms) which only opened last month.

The accommodation sits at the edge of the race circuit, some of which overlooks the famous corners of Copse, Maggots, Becketts and Chapel.

Judi and Alexandra showed the party around a number of the properties, as well as the clubhouse gym, pool, sauna, treatment rooms, restaurant, bar and roof terrace.

Delegates then headed to the restaurant, where they were well looked after by Tanice, Judy and Alexandra as they were treated to a special tasting menu in the new restaurant which was adorned with lots of racing memorabilia.

Minibuses then transported the party back to the hotel where most of the group enjoyed a nightcap before heading back home in the morning.

Judging by the feedback from everyone, it won’t be long before members of the Brighter team will be heading back to the Hilton Garden Inn, and Escapade Silverstone – what a venue!