transforming business teams through time in nature
- Mission Control
- Nov 6
- 4 min read
Updated: 6 hours ago
Corporate Retreats: How nature can transform your team productivity and company culture
In today’s fast-changing world, business has to evolve like never before and the traditional corporate retreat is evolving to match businesses’ needs.
The most impactful corporate retreats are no longer about PowerPoint sessions, generic hotel venues or, worse still, a set of team-building activities that everyone has done four times before.
Instead, forward-thinking businesses are stepping outside. Literally.
Business is reimaging away days and company retreats by taking their teams into nature. The result? Less stress. More creativity. Stronger connection and collaboration. And a company culture that truly thrives.
If you want to attract top talent, improve wellbeing and mental health, and future-proof your company in a time of rapid change, nature might just be your most powerful business asset.
The rise of nature-based corporate retreats in the UK
The corporate retreat is shifting from ‘offsite meeting’ or ‘fun activity day’ to transformative experience. As UK organisations face growing pressure to tackle stress, hybrid work challenges, and sustainability goals, innovative business leaders are turning to nature-based retreats to help their teams reset, reconnect and focus on the challenges ahead.
At The Bioasis, we specialise in immersive outdoor experiences that take business teams out of their offices and out of their comfort zones - and into wild, inspiring environments designed for reflection, creativity, genuine connection and hard-hitting team outcomes.
Workplace Stress in the UK: Why teams need a reset
According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE, 2024), over 775,000 UK workers suffered from work-related stress, depression, or anxiety last year, making up 54% of all work-related ill health.(1)
Meanwhile, research from Mind shows that 1 in 6 employees experiences mental health issues like anxiety or burnout each week. The toll on businesses is huge: an estimated 33.7 million working days lost annually(2) and billions in reduced productivity and staff turnover. Mental health conditions accounted for ~9.8% of absence occurrences in 2024.
Poor mental wellbeing costs employers in the UK an estimated £42 billion to £45 billion annually through presenteeism, sickness absence and staff turnover(3). Meanwhile the same research from Deloitte, makes the positive case for employers investing in mental health, with an average return of £5 for every £1 spent.
It’s clear: workplace wellbeing can’t be an afterthought. Those companies that prioritise it will outperform those that don’t. As such, corporate retreats that prioritise mental restoration and reconnection are becoming essential to building healthier, more resilient teams.
Why Nature Works: The science behind outdoor team building
The mental and physical benefits of nature on individual and teams are backed by science. Studies from the University of Exeter show that spending at least two hours a week outdoors dramatically improves health and life satisfaction(4). Other research finds that being in green spaces can:
Lower stress hormone (cortisol) levels by up to 15%
Increase creative thinking and problem-solving by between 20 and 50%
Improve focus, mood and teamwork significantly.
In short, nature helps teams reconnect on a human level. Away from digital distractions, communication becomes more open, ideas flow freely and hierarchies soften.
Building culture and connection through corporate retreats
In an era of hybrid work, many teams feel disconnected. Any business owner running a company that involves a remote team knows that connection between your staff is a massive challenge. A corporate team retreat in nature not only gives employees the chance to meet face to face, but also to slow down, listen and rediscover shared purpose, through meaningful adventures and conservation work.
The Bioasis is leading the way in exactly this type of team retreat. We design experiences that blend outdoor adventure, reflection, learning and hands-on conservation work. It’s team building and adventure, mixed with a full reset and hands-on CSR activities all rolled into one. Whether it’s woodland hikes, fireside discussions, canoe adventures or sustainability-focused workshops, every element is designed to bring people together and strengthen company culture.
We’re not talking about one-off ‘away days’ to try and placate your staff. A Bioasis retreat is the catalysts for long-term change, helping teams return to work more cohesive, creative, productive and inspired.
Attracting and retaining top talent through purpose
Younger generations want more from their employers. A 2024 Deloitte survey found that 64% of Gen Z and 59% of Millennials would leave a company that doesn’t align with their environmental or social values(5).
Investing in nature-based retreats for your business team shows a commitment to people and planet. It signals that your business values wellbeing, creativity and sustainability, which are now key drivers of loyalty and retention.
Put simply: if you want to attract and keep great people, take them somewhere that reminds them why their work matters.
The really exciting part, though, is increased profit. Why? Being a business that actively makes the world a better place can be a powerful motivator: as a purpose to exist, as a company to work for and as a business to buy from.
Leading for the Future: Regeneration over sustainability
I believe the next evolution of leadership is regenerative, not just sustainable. What do I mean by that? I mean we need to be creating organisations that make the world a better place, not just minimise our impact. We need to be actively improving people’s lives, ecosystems, our impact and our communities.
A Bioasis business retreat immerses your teams in environments that model resilience, adaptability and balance, the exact same traits successful companies need in a rapidly changing world.
When leaders connect with nature, they reconnect with what truly matters: purpose, clarity and collective strength.
Time to Step Outside
The best corporate retreats in the UK are those that move beyond meeting rooms and sticky notes. It’s time to take teams somewhere they can breathe, think and grow.
The Bioasis helps organisations design transformative outdoor experiences that reduce stress, boost creativity and strengthen company culture. If you’re ready to take your next corporate retreat beyond the ordinary, then step into nature with us.
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