The Programme Unit team at UCAS, the organisation responsible for university applications, has been walking around very carefully the past couple of days - being sure not to make any sudden movements. The reason is that they have been on a team building away day! With not a flip chart in sight the unit headed off to the Cotswold Care Hospice near Stroud to provide much needed help with their garden.

In preparation for the very busy time around A level results day, a total of 27 Project Managers, Business Analysts and Testers took part in a team building exercise which resulted in clearing the greenhouse, weeding, clearing the pond, lots and lots of digging and the planting of a tree.

The team building day was set up by Three Sector Match, a county-wide project which encourages the sharing of skills and expertise between businesses and charities. Other ventures have included matching private sector business planning, marketing, PR and website design skills with local voluntary groups, to help them develop new ways of working.

Maria Tucker, Programme Manager at UCAS said “After lots of sweat, blisters, (luckily no tears) a bedraggled bunch of very muddy Testers, Project Managers and Business Analysts headed to the pub before staggering home for a well deserved bath and nap. The day was a huge success and we would recommend a Three Sector Match Team Challenge to anybody else. The team worked well together and all have a sense of achievement. In fact, we hope we have made alliances for many years to come.”

Everyone at the Cotswold Care Hospice was delighted with the outcome of the day. Marcus Green, the Chief Executive said, “We can’t thank the team at UCAS enough. They have made huge changes to the garden – which is now ready to be enjoyed by everyone who visits the centre. Its great to think that a business can have fun and make such a difference – whilst learning new skills on the job.”:

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