In todayโs hybrid, high-pressure work environment, traditional away days or offsites are evolving. For many organisations, the focus is no longer on high-energy activities or late-night socials but on creating space for teams to slow down, reconnect and realign. This shift has given rise to the Conscious Company Retreat who deliver offsites with wellbeing at the core…
For PAs and EAs tasked with planning offsites, this presents both a challenge and an opportunity: how to design gatherings that bring people together, support wellbeing, foster creativity and strengthen team culture.
Here are some guiding principles from 42 Acres, a regenerative estate, nature reserve, and wellbeing retreat in Somerset that hosts purpose-led company gatherings.
Choose venues for your offsites that support restoration
Instead of hotels or conference centres, consider spaces rooted in nature. Locations with woodland, lakes and open skies invite teams to slow down and step away from the everyday. Being immersed in natural rhythms reduces stress, boosts creativity and deepens connection. โNature-led team experiences have the power to inspire, connect, restore, and energise organisations. Past company retreat guests unlocked possibilities they never thought achievable.โ – Lisa Hawes, Communications Lead, 42 Acres.
Put food at the centre
Food is one of the most powerful ways to connect people. Seek venues with a philosophy that aligns with wellbeing and regeneration. At 42 Acres, the โSoil-to-Gutโ approach celebrates hyper-local, seasonal food, much of it grown or foraged on-site. Meals are served family-style at long tables to encourage conversation and connection. โThe guiding principle of our land & food practice is to work with nature not against it,โ Lisa explains.
Curate experiences with intention
Offsites should go beyond standard presentations and socials. Immersive sessions, such as breathwork, fire cooking or guided rewilding walks, help teams reconnect with themselves and nature. โEach experience is designed to align with natureโs rhythms, supporting guests to find their own rhythm in return.โ
Design for alignment, not distraction
The best retreats create space for clarity and connection. Quiet luxury, elegant simplicity and indoor and outdoor gathering spaces, from ornamental gardens to ancient woodland, help teams slow down and allow new ideas to emerge.
Ensure momentum continues post-retreat
A conscious offsite isnโt just a few days away. The most successful gatherings include practices and intentions that teams can carry into daily work, so benefits ripple long after the retreat ends.
As demand for values-led, regenerative retreats grows, PAs and EAs are uniquely placed to shape this shift. By prioritising venues, food and experiences that restore both people and planet, offsites can become transformative moments of alignment, inspiration and wellbeing.
Retreats at 42 Acres start from ยฃ325 per person based on two people sharing for a Birch Corporate Retreat | www.42acres.com
PA Life magazine’s wellness column is a great source of advice for executive support professionals who influence and manage their company’s wellness programmes.
