polaris
Strategic Problem Solving | Inter-Departmental Solutions | CSR & Biomimicry | Capacity Innovation
3 days | 2 nights
Polaris is a working retreat where great ideas originate and teams collaborate. We provide time, space and a rich, engaging environment to help you and your team come up with your best ideas: innovations and strategy that will help you solve your North Star problem.
Great ideas don't come when we're in the office. They come when we're walking. They come when we're surrounded by nature. Or doing something completely disconnected with work.
To thrive in a rapidly changing world, businesses need to innovate, change and embed sustainability across all departments like never before. Solving problems with a white board and Post-It notes only gets you so far. So if you have a big, strategic problem that requires a whole team or company approach, and you're looking to come up with innovative solutions, then look no further than the Polaris Retreat.
Set in a private 5000 acre estate, complete with rugged coastline, ancient woodland, wildflower meadows and sparkling rivers, we'll help you and your team to find clarity and perspective away from the noise of the everyday, setting the conditions for you to come up with your best ideas.
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What can Polaris do for you?
Whatever your business challenge, we guarantee you'll come up with more ideas and better solutions if you take time out of the office.
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Polaris is a retreat that encapsulates that approach and puts it on steroids.
We harness the creative inspiration of nature, walking and left-field thinking and bring it all together into an enjoyable, purpose-driven festival of innovation, ideas and strategic problem solving.
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Whether you come as a team to crack a specific issue, or want to bring departmental heads and senior leaders to solve the problem of embedding sustainability across the company, Polaris is a chance to step out of the office and put your thinking caps on.
It is the space to think differently.
For ideas to flourish.
For change to take root.
4 days of immersion in nature increases performance on a creativity, problem-solving task by 50%
How it works...
The Set Up: All Polaris Retreats start with the Set Up: a 'pitch' of the problem by senior leadership to the wider team. This could be in the form of a presentation or a report, but it's essentially a summary of the problem you've come to solve. You must present a clear picture of the 'WHAT' and the 'WHY', but crucially, not the 'HOW'.
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Let nature do her thing: Over the course of the next few days, through canoeing journeys, nature walks, conservation work, woodland meditation, sunset spots, star gazing and fireside discussions, your team go to work. Talking. Walking. Ruminating. You'll find the best ideas come to you in the strangest of places.
The Reconvene and Wrap Up: At various points through the retreat, we bring the team together, to share updates, ideas and progress. White boards, flip charts, notebooks are useful at points, but only as a means to collate and share thoughts. The ideas themselves come from elsewhere.
At the end of the retreat, a final wrap up helps solidify ideas, system innovations, opportunities and the way ahead. Your team can return to the office ready to implement and execute a wealth of new ideas and solutions.
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External input: If you want speakers, industry specialists, circular economy or sustainability experts to come in and inject external perspective into the mix, then just let us know. We have a range of people we can go to.
What to expect
A walking, talking ideas fest
The exact length of the retreat and how much structured time you want to allocate to team discussions can be tailored to your requirements. Contact us to discuss your desired outcomes.
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Meeting point: South Devon.
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Group Size: 8 - 24
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​Fitness expectations: This is an active retreat, but there is no requirement for previous outdoor/adventure experience. We'll undertake a variety of walks ranging from 4 - 10 kms, covering a mix of terrain such as woodland and estuary trails. There are a few hills. We recommend heading out in canoes (sharing the paddling) for a different perspective. Full instruction will be given.
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Your Bioasis team: You’ll be under the watchful eye of our experienced outdoor facilitators and wild guides who will provide professional insights and support throughout, ensuring a safe and enriching experience for all.
"Sometimes the best way to move forward is to step back, shift the lens, breathe, and see the bigger picture. When we zoom out, problems shrink, gratitude grows, and fresh ideas flood in. If you need inspiration on how to do that in the wildest, most meaningful way possible, check out The Bioasis in Devon!"
Kyriakos Baxenavis, Nostos Hove
Dates & Booking
The Polaris Retreat can be run on a date of your choosing, subject to availability. Our basecamps are operational between 1st May and end of September. Please contact us to discuss dates and availability.
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What's included?
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Comprehensive pre-arrival information
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All activities and technical equipment
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Multi-share accommodation (read more about our basecamps)
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All food from afternoon snack on day 1 to lunch on day 3
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Unlimited tea, coffee and hot drinks
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A selection of cold drinks at meal times
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Experienced Bioasis wild guides and facilitators
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Free Parking
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Full safety back up, risk assessments, evac plans
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Post Retreat check-ins and networking opportunities
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I loved our experience at the Bioasis. The camps are really well set up, the agenda is full of unique nature-based experiences and the staff are amazing. I returned home brimming with new ideas and feeling like I had done a full reset (much more of a reset than a 2 week holiday in Spain if I am honest!)"
​Harry Pass, Elegant Clutter
General Information, kit lists, menus & more
If you need more information at this stage, before being able to commit, then you can find details of what to bring, how to find us, safety information, policies, food and allergy provision, first aid and emergencies, code of conduct and lots more via the link below.
