May is a special month for us at Griffin. Not only does it bring warmer weather, brighter mornings and lighter evenings, it’s also the month of our annual offsite, affectionately known as the Gathering. This event is perhaps our most significant company ritual, bringing Grifflings together to:

• celebrate our collective achievements
• strengthen our bonds and relationships
• align on our vision and strategy for the year

For three days, we transform a beautiful venue into Griffin HQ to immerse ourselves in work, strategy, and a healthy dose of fun.

Unplugged and connected

This year was extra special. While it was our fourth offsite, it was the first time we ventured beyond the UK with the whole company! As a remote-first company we’re no strangers to a bit of travel. However, our previous Gatherings had always happened in the UK, where most Grifflings live. This international foray added in an exciting new dimension and a sense of shared adventure.

We chose a resort in the coastal town of Cascais, Portugal, a stone’s throw from Lisbon. This venue was carefully selected to help Grifflings disconnect from their daily routines and fully engage. By stepping away from the background pings of emails and Slack notifications, we created an environment that was sure to cultivate meaningful in-person connections.

And this worked! The sentiment was reflected in our post-event survey, with 95.2% of our people confirming that they Agreed or Strongly Agreed that the Gathering provided ample opportunities for connection. This also aligned with our observations throughout the event.

Inclusive by design

While the idea of an international offsite was thrilling for many, at Griffin we understand that one size doesn't fit all. We were acutely aware that for some of our team members, the prospect of being away from familiar surroundings could be a source of deep anxiety and uncertainty.

Inclusion isn't just a buzzword for us‍—‌it's a core part of who we are. We knew that if the Gathering was going to truly reflect our culture, we needed to ensure all Grifflings felt comfortable and supported. Whether it was dietary requirements, accessibility needs, or anxiety about travel, we were committed to finding solutions. If there was a reasonable adjustment we could make to help someone feel more at ease, we would make it happen.

Many Grifflings who had their needs accommodated expressed their appreciation and shared that these accommodations allowed them to fully participate in and enjoy the experience. 96.4% of our people Agreed or Strongly Agreed that the Gathering was in sync with our culture. This statistic is more than just a number to us‍—‌it's proof of the inclusive, supportive environment we strive to create at Griffin.

Beyond our bubble

Another thing we did differently this year was hire external facilitators for the first time. Enter Sam and Maya Knight from Momentum Processes, who led sessions on high-performing teams and the science of happiness. The reception to these sessions was overwhelmingly positive, demonstrating the transformative effect that a dash of fresh external wisdom can have. We want to do more of this next time!

Small acts with big impact

We also learned that the simplest things are often the most beautiful. We rediscovered the beauty of handwritten letters when we created a wall of appreciation, filled with letters dedicated to one another. Some letters were long, and others were short but the wall of heartfelt, handwritten notes was a powerful reminder of the bonds we've built, despite the physical distance that usually separates us.

Looking forward

The honest feedback from our team (transparency is one of our core values after all!) has given us some great insights for future Gatherings. If you’re planning an offsite, here are 3 key takeaways from ours. We learned:

• how much our Grifflings value unstructured time for building organic, enduring bonds with colleagues. We'll be sure to factor more of that into our next Gathering;
• people want time to explore their surroundings. We’ll set aside dedicated time for people to go offsite and enjoy what the local area has to offer;
• recruiting a network of Grifflings to support on the organisation really boosted the experiential value. Working with our Design team in particular elevated the overall event and helped make sure the touch points were consistent and thoughtful. Needless to say, this is definitely something that we will be repeating!

That being said, the most heartwarming stat of all is that a whopping 96.4% of our people Agreed or Strongly Agreed that they feel proud to work at Griffin. Our goal with the Gathering is to create a sense of belonging that continues long after we’ve all returned home.

We think we nailed it!