Each year, we take time out as a team to tackle a challenge, get creative, and spend time together outside the day-to-day. In previous years, these away days have helped us fine-tune our processes, refresh the Poke brand, and stay focused on keeping creativity at our core – all of which have left us full of fresh ideas to bring back into the agency.
This year, we took things one step further and headed to Rome. The focus was about how we protect and nurture our culture as we grow. With three new team members already this year, it felt like the right time to step back and think about what makes Poke “Poke”, and how we hold onto that as we grow.
Over the two days, we ran team activities, wandered through the city, and even created brand identities for each other. We explored and appreciated the blend of personalities that make up Poke, and how we work best together.
Nicola Docking, our Managing Director, sees huge value in these away days:
“We always come back completely re-energised, with loads of actions to implement. I like to focus on our current challenge as a business, and with a number of new starters all joining us at a hectic time, this felt like the perfect way for us to get to know each other better, align on what we all think makes Poke “Poke”, and work on making sure that holds true as we scale.
The team works incredibly hard, so taking time out together, and taking time to focus on Poke, gives us a fresh energy that I know will translate into their work.”
We returned with a renewed sense of energy, clarity and connection, as well as a few tangible actions we’ll be weaving into the way we work. It’s this kind of intentional time together that helps us stay aligned, creative, and rooted in the culture we’ve built, all while continuing to grow into the agency we want to become.
