Nicholas Craig column

Sep 30 2005 By Nicholas Craig, The Journal

I now know how the Oscar nominees feel. Thank goodness I didn't prepare my humbly grateful acceptance speech on video because I was out of the region.

It was unnecessary. I was, for the second time running, pipped at the post for an Alternative Business Award.

The award was, I believe, for that most essential element of successful business life - lunching.

Having done my best to excel at this art, it is acutely disappointing to hear that a media person beat me to it.

As an event, the Alternative Business Awards are a breath of fresh air. They also benefit the Percy Hedley School, which is an added reason to support them.

Corporate functions are already beginning to multiply in the run-up to Christmas, and unusual venues and ever more inventive activities are gaining ground in popularity for business get-togethers.

The tree-house at Alnwick Garden is a particularly innovative option. Events held at its extraordinary restaurant support the charity that keeps the garden and its growing feast of delights thriving.

Belsay, Beamish and Baltic all offer their space and catering expertise for specific events, as do many other splendid buildings in our region.

Participation by guests at a business occasion is, however, the buzzword. No longer do we simply turn up, sip, chat and eat before leaving, job done.

Now we are invited to interact, experience and enjoy every minute before departing, exhilarated or exhausted.

You can now try spy games, such as evasive driving or being part of a diamond heist, for your annual gathering.

You can plan a themed dinner - how about seaside picnic, western ranch or private yacht as possibilities for your treasured clients?

Each proactive event is carefully constructed to be more memorable than the one before.

It is good to see creativity coming to the fore at these events.

If they are fun, unforgettable and well put together they are likely to boost goodwill towards the company from important contacts.

In my heart of hearts, however, I must admit to a hankering for the simplest of corporate events.

Lunch, with good company in an excellent restaurant steals the biscuit for me every time.

Nicholas Craig is a partner at Watson Burton LLP