“Fear less. Love more” – being Human!
That was the message at this year’s Brighton Summit, held at the Attenborough centre for creative arts on the University of Sussex Campus. We were treated to a day of workshops, speakers, and activities that encapsulated and celebrated the human in all of us. It was a no-brainer to have our team day out at the Summit as being Human reflects the heart of our business and the recruitment services we deliver.
400 humans, business leaders, entrepreneurs, and professionals joined us to listen to the thought-provoking keynotes by Jens Knoop from Knoops Chocolate, Professor Angela Gallop CBE and Lord Simon Woolley from Homerton College. All this amidst an impressive line-up of inspirational speakers and motivational workshops.
We were also fuelled by an amazing array of delicious food and drink, from breakfast to lunch to afternoon tea, with coffee and tea stops from Red Roaster and Bird and Blend (I can’t lie, their Rhubarb and Custard is still my favourite! Weird for a tea I know, but it just works). Plus give me a chocolate brownie in the afternoon and that is a perfect day!
A team building day is all about the team, so it was brilliant to have so many great activities to choose from.
From Human Alchemy – the power of breath to an hour singing with The Choir With No Name, there was no end to the human experiences, personal moments, and professional development.
Our standout moments:
- I surprised the team with a fun (and thankfully tuneful) lunchtime performance of Rag’n’Bone Man’s “Human”, sung beside The Choir With No Name (who are a group of geniuses — they got a crazy group of us singing harmonies in an hour!)
- Everyone joining in a standing ovation to celebrate the powerful lessons shared by Lord Simon Woolley (seriously, I want Naomi Campbell in my black book)
- Simon Murie’s childhood story and the inspiration for merging his 2 passions: swimming and travel, to start a brand-new travel company and why it is important to bring your stakeholders on your journey. (I now want to go on a swim holiday… well, one for softies anyway!)
- Jens Knoop and the fact there is a hot chocolate shop in Brighton – ready and waiting for our next team meeting! He reminded us to stop and ask, ‘what is the perception, and how will it be accepted?’ and to treat every customer with a beginner’s mindset.
- Kevan Smith reminded us that ‘everyone identifies with people in the challenges they face’.
- And of course, in the words of Lord Simon Woolley: ‘Fear less, love more.’ – He definitely made an impression, what a way to wrap up the day!
Thank you to the Brighton Chamber team for another awesome event, what can we say: it’s been an unforgettable experience!
