12 New Year Team Building Activities to Motivate And Inspire Your Team

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Coming back to work after the holidays can be a mixed bag. While some team members may feel refreshed and ready to tackle the new year, others might experience the post-holiday blues, struggling to switch from festive mode back to work mode.

That’s where corporate team building activities can make a real difference. They’re not just a fun way to bring everyone together, they’re great for recharging the team, getting everyone on the same page and sparking motivation and creativity for the year ahead.

Whether your team is buzzing with energy or needs a little lift to shake off the winter blues, these activities are a brilliant way to kickstart the new year. Here are our top 12 ideas to get things rolling.

1. Charity Bike Build

Kicking off the new year with a charity team building activity is a fantastic way to bring your team together while making a real impact. With the Charity Bike Build, your team will work to assemble brand-new bicycles, which will be donated to children in need.

We take care of everything, bringing all the materials and our expert events team to your location. Through fun and engaging challenges, your team will earn the parts needed to build the bikes, guided step-by-step by a skilled facilitator. To make it even more special, your team can add personalised messages to the bikes for their future riders. Once the event wraps up, we handle delivery to the charity.

This is more than just a new year team building activity – it’s a meaningful experience that encourages teamwork, practical skills and compassion. It’s the perfect way to set a positive, collaborative tone for the year while showcasing your company’s commitment to corporate social responsibility. Ready to get started? Contact us today for a free, bespoke proposal in under 45 minutes!

Large group of people presenting their bikes in charity bike build event for team building

2. Masterpiece

Masterpiece is a creative and inspiring team building challenge that’s perfect for starting the new year with a burst of collaboration and creativity. Split into teams, participants will take on fun challenges to earn their art supplies. Then, each team will paint their own canvas based on a given image. The twist? Every canvas is part of a bigger picture.

Teams must work together – not just within their group but across all teams – to ensure colours and details align perfectly. Once complete, our event crew assembles the canvases to reveal the final artwork, bringing the overall masterpiece to life. Whether it’s a depiction of your company’s values, future goals or a motivational message, the finished piece serves as a powerful symbol of teamwork and shared vision for the year ahead.

Best of all, the masterpiece can be proudly displayed in your office as a daily reminder of your team’s creativity and collaboration. We’ll bring everything to your chosen venue – art supplies, staff and equipment – anywhere in the UK. Ready to inspire your team with a team building activity for the new year? Get in touch today for a free, bespoke quote!

Group of people painting on canvas with water colours on Masterpiece creative team building event

3. Build a Living Wall

Start the new year by transforming your office and energising your team with a Living Wall workshop! This hands-on sustainability team building activity lets your team create a beautiful, fully customised living wall that fits your office’s style and space.

We’ll bring everything you need – plants, materials and an expert instructor who will guide the team through the process. As you plant lush greenery and vibrant flowers, you’ll also take part in fun team challenges that encourage collaboration, creativity and teamwork.

Once the wall is complete, our expert will install it in your chosen spot, turning your workspace into a refreshing green oasis. Not only does the living wall add a stunning visual element, but it also promotes a healthier environment, improving air quality and enhancing overall wellbeing.

Kick off the year with a team building activity that unites your team and sets a positive, sustainable tone for the new year. Ready to get started? Contact us today for a free, bespoke proposal!

team collaborating for living wall team building activity in the office

4. Apprentices

The new year is the perfect opportunity to spark fresh ideas, challenge your team’s problem-solving skills and encourage out-of-the-box thinking. If you’re after a business-focused new year team building that’s as fun as it is engaging, Apprentices is for you!

Inspired by the iconic show, participants will step into the high-pressure boardroom, greeted by dramatic music and our own business mogul, Sir Alex Sweetex. Divided into teams, they’ll receive their briefs and tackle a series of dynamic business tasks designed to develop leadership, delegation, commercial awareness and teamwork, all while competing head-to-head.

As the final boardroom session looms, teams will present their ideas to Sir Alex and his expert panel, aiming to impress and avoid hearing the dreaded words: “You’re fired!”

This high-energy, creative challenge will get your team thinking strategically, collaborating effectively and fired up to tackle the year ahead. Plus, we can tailor the tasks to align with your company’s goals. Get in touch today for a free, bespoke proposal!

The Apprentice Team Building

5. Betrayers

Betrayers is a thrilling new year team activity that will keep your team on edge as they race to solve engaging challenges. But there’s a catch! Someone on each team is working undercover, secretly sabotaging their own group to claim victory for themselves!

It’s a fast-paced, high-energy experience packed with dynamic tasks and the ever-present threat of betrayal. Teams will dive into action-packed rounds like:

  • Cipher Challenge – Solve puzzles to unlock the codes on the lockboxes.
  • Quest for Riches – Use an interactive scavenger map to locate the hidden treasures.
  • Melodic Mystery – Test your ears by identifying the tricky musical tones.

As the clock ticks down, teams must try to unmask the betrayer before it’s too late. But be careful – accusing the wrong person could hand the win to the undercover saboteurs!

This unpredictable and wildly entertaining activity is the perfect way to bring energy and fun to the start of the year. Ready to get started? Contact us today for a free, bespoke proposal in under 45 minutes!

Traitors team building activity with slates and lanterns in a dark, castle room

6. Kidnap Your MD

Kick off the new year with the unforgettable Kidnap Your MD event! Just as your team wraps up discussions about the new business strategy, chaos strikes – your MD is taken hostage, along with all the crucial company files! Don’t worry, it’s all part of the plan for this thrilling and immersive new year activity for employees.

Here’s how it unfolds: mysterious criminals, dressed head-to-toe in black, swoop in and kidnap your MD right under your noses, disappearing without a trace. It’s now up to your team to crack the case and save the day!

Working in groups, your team will tackle an array of investigative challenges – analysing fingerprints, examining fibres, interviewing witnesses and even creating e-fits of the suspects. This high-energy, murder-mystery-style experience will have everyone racing against the clock to uncover the truth and rescue your MD. Get in touch today for tailored pricing and recommendations!

Kidnap your MD dummies dressed in red for team building challenge

7. Dragons Lair

Start the new year with Dragons Lair, a thrilling team building activity inspired by the hit show! We’ll transform your office into the Dragons Lair, where participants are welcomed by our charismatic host and introduced to the tycoon investors. You can nominate team members to take on the role of Dragons or let our professional actors judge the ideas.

In teams, participants will receive their brief and dive into crafting the ultimate invention or business idea. Whether you want an open-ended challenge or something tailored to your business goals, we’ll design the activity to suit your needs. Teams will tackle every aspect of the process, from brainstorming and market research to marketing and financial planning.

For the finale, teams will prepare and rehearse their elevator pitches before stepping into the Dragons’ Lair to present their ideas. Facing the panel, they’ll make their case, hoping to win over the investors and claim the top spot.

Whether you’re looking to ignite innovation for a new project this year or simply want to develop your team’s skills in a fun, competitive way, Dragons Lair is the perfect new year team building activity. Get in touch today for personalised recommendations and pricing!

Dragons Lair team building investor sitting on armchair

8. Survival Island

Challenge your team to step out of their comfort zones with Survival Island, an outdoor team building adventure that fosters resilience, teamwork and essential survival skills. It’s the ultimate way to start the year with an experience that brings your team closer together.

Set at an outdoor location of your choice, your team will dive into realistic survival scenarios guided by an expert. Split into groups, participants will take on a series of exciting challenges, such as lighting fires with minimal tools, building shelters, performing first aid, constructing stretchers, tying knots and creating water filters using natural materials like sand and charcoal.

We’ll provide high-quality equipment and a fully immersive survival training programme that goes beyond survival techniques. Your team will gain valuable skills like resilience, adaptability, teamwork, decision-making under pressure and problem-solving – tools they can bring back to the workplace.

Looking for a unique and impactful way to kick off the new year? Get in touch today for your free, bespoke quote!

Women being carried by team in survivor island team building event for summer

9. Sleep Pods for the Homeless

The Sleep Pods for the Homeless team building event provides a powerful opportunity to give back by supporting those facing homelessness in cold winter conditions. It’s the perfect activity to start the new year, bringing your team together around a cause that truly matters right now.

In this new year team activity, teams will take on fun, interactive challenges to earn the materials needed to build emergency Sleep Pods. Guided by our expert facilitator, your team will assemble these life-saving shelters which are designed to retain body heat, protect from the elements and provide immediate shelter. Once the event is over, we’ll handle the delivery of the Sleep Pods to the charity, ensuring they go directly to those in need.

This meaningful experience not only highlights an urgent issue but also promotes collaboration and unity within your team. It’s an impactful way to start the year, combining team building with a charitable goal. Contact us today for a free, bespoke proposal!

Team of two people building a sleep pod for charity team building event

10. Operation Supply Drop

Operation Supply Drop is the perfect team building activity to start the new year with purpose and positivity. This hands-on experience lets your team come together to assemble care packages for those facing homelessness in your community.

The event begins with an inspiring presentation from the charity, highlighting the importance of the cause and how your contribution will make a real difference. Then, participants are divided into smaller teams and take on a series of fun, military-themed challenges. Each task you complete earns funds to collect essential items such as food and household products. From memory games and survival tests to skill challenges and precision tasks, you’ll need to collaborate, think creatively and push your team’s problem-solving abilities.

After the event, the GOTO Events team will deliver the care packages to the selected charity, ensuring your contributions reach those in need. The sense of accomplishment from making a tangible impact will carry your team through the year, setting a positive tone for everything to come.

Operation supply drop participants in army outfits reading a map on the floor

11. Putt for a Purpose

Putt for a Purpose is a team building activity that blends creativity, collaboration and a commitment to making a positive impact on your community this new year!

Here’s how it works: Teams are divided into smaller groups, each assigned a mini-golf hole base. We bring everything needed to your venue or office and we set up the course to fit your space. Teams take on fun challenges to earn materials such as boxes, cans and packages, which they’ll use to design and build their own mini-golf holes.

Once all the holes are complete, the competition begins as everyone plays through the course and tests each other’s creations in a light-hearted mini-golf challenge. At the end of the event, we collect all the food bank items and donate them to a chosen charity, helping those in need in your local community.

If you want a fun yet meaningful way to kick off the new year, get in touch today for personalised recommendations and pricing!

employees building mini golf holes for charity team building activity

12. Charity Bake Off

Charity Bake Off is a fun, hands-on baking experience led by a Michelin-star-trained pastry chef – but with a charity twist. The baked goods created by your team will be donated to a local homeless charity to help those in need.

We bring everything to you – a fully equipped mobile kitchen, ingredients and all the tools for professional baking. Your team will be split into groups, each with their own workstation, complete with aprons and chef hats. After a demo from the chef, it’s time to get baking a variety of products like breads, cakes and pastries. This new year activity for employees is all about teamwork, as you’ll collaborate, learn new skills and share ideas to create the perfect treats. There will be plenty of tasting opportunities along the way, and the chef will be there to guide you through the process to ensure top-quality results.

Once everything is baked, we’ll pack up the goodies and deliver them to a local homeless charity. Get in touch today for a free, bespoke proposal!

Decorating cake at baking team building activity

Need help choosing the right new year team building activity?

Our experienced event managers are here to give you bespoke recommendations and pricing information!

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FAQs

What is a new year team building activity?

A new year team building activity is a challenge designed to unite employees at the start of the year, fostering teamwork and collaboration while setting a positive tone for the months ahead. GOTO Events offers a variety of engaging activities that bring people together, develop key skills and create unforgettable experiences that inspire and motivate teams to work more effectively throughout the year.

What are the benefits of hosting a new year team building activity?

Hosting a new year team building activity is a great way to kickstart the year by bringing your team together. It helps strengthen relationships, boost energy and get everyone on the same page for the year ahead. Plus, it’s a fun way to improve communication, problem-solving and collaboration in a relaxed setting.

What are the best team building activities for new year?

The best team building activities for new year are those that spark creativity and teamwork while setting a positive tone for the year ahead. Activities like Survival Island, where teams tackle outdoor challenges, or Sleep Pods for the Homeless, where teams build emergency shelters for those in need, promote collaboration and problem-solving. Dragons Lair offers a fun, competitive business challenge, while Putt for a Purpose combines creativity and giving back by designing mini-golf holes using food bank supplies. Get in touch today to get more ideas and a free, bespoke proposal!

How many people can participate in new year team building?

Our activities are highly flexible, catering to both small groups and large teams. We’ll collaborate with you to create a tailored experience, ensuring the activities are perfectly suited to your team size so everyone can enjoy and participate fully!

Where should I host the new year team building activity?

Choose a venue near you that offers convenience and supports smooth logistics, like catering and AV setup, for a seamless experience. The right venue not only simplifies planning but also enhances the event with a memorable setting. GOTO Events can help you find the perfect venue anywhere in the UK or bring the activities directly to your office, complete with all equipment and an expert on-site team.