Interview with BP's Simon Cook

BP have taken part in CARE Challenges regularly over the years, but next Spring we?ll be running their very first bespoke charity teambuilding event. This is already creating great excitement within the company. Here, IT Architect Simon Cook tells us what motivated BP to partner with CARE.

This is a first for you. Can you tell us how the BP Adventure Challenge came about?
Past experience has shown that if you want to get people working together as a team, there?s no substitute for taking them out of their daily activities and making them do something a bit different!

We want to do something for our department that was a bit special, and that people would be proud to take part in and will remember. 

Why have BP decided to support CARE through their involvement in this bespoke company event?
BP have a history of working with CARE International as one of their charity partners. CARE?s focus is on sustainable development and working with local communities.

From a personal point of view, I?ve had the benefit of seeing the benefits of CARE?s work in the developing world first-hand.  In 2006 a group of 12 of us from BP raised a sum of money for CARE, and travelled to Bolivia to install irrigation and fresh water taps in a temporary camp in the Santa Cruz region. The heavy flooding had displaced thousands of people from their homes suddenly, and CARE were working hard to install the basics to get people back on their feet.  We were able to see how the money we?d raised was spent directly, as well as getting involved with e the manual labour itself.
 
Our experience has shown that the CARE Challenge Team are very professional, and look after all the aspects, from co-ordinating fundraising to health and safety on the day.

In what ways do you think the company will benefit from sponsoring and taking part in this event?
I think the main benefits we?ll see will come from everyone getting together outside of the office.  This kind of event is absolutely perfect for getting to see a side of your colleagues that you just don?t see at work!

What are your hopes for the 2008 event?
Obviously I?m hoping that we can raise a considerable amount of money for CARE, but at the same time is really important that the team building aspect is a success.  If people have a good time on this event it will make it much easier to organise follow up events in the future, and continue raising money for CARE.

Do you have a message for other BP colleagues considering taking part in this event, and for other companies considering bespoke company events?
For other companies, I?d say that an event like this is really a fantastic way to do teambuilding activities and get involved with a really worthwhile cause at the same time. As far as BP colleagues go, I?d say get involved!

The BP Adventure Challenge will be a one-day multi-activity Challenge taking place in Spring 2008, challenging BP employees to pit their skills against each other through a series of hiking, biking and canoeing challenges, in the Coniston area of the Lake District.

If you would like to find out how we can design a bespoke event exclusively for your company, please get in touch!

Read about the bespoke event we designed and hosted for Starbucks here.