Team Wellness Walk: INCO's Day Out in the Peak District

Last week, the INCO team stepped away from the office and into the beautiful Peak District for a refreshing change of scenery. Trading our usual office attire for walking boots, we embarked on a "Wellness Walk" organised by our director, Sarah Clowes, passionate about promoting mental health awareness in the workplace.

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A Breath of Fresh Air

The Peak District National Park sits practically on our doorstep, offering stunning landscapes and hiking trails just a short drive from our office. Despite this proximity, our busy work schedules often prevent us from taking full advantage of this natural resource. Sarah's initiative aimed to change that, allowing everyone to disconnect from screens and reconnect with nature and each other.

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Conquering Thorpe Cloud

Our destination was Thorpe Cloud, a distinctive limestone hill in Dovedale that offers spectacular views for those willing to climb it. Despite some challenging wind conditions, the team reached the summit, enjoying conversations and helping each other.

The climb created natural opportunities for team members who don't regularly work together to chat and get to know each other better. Many of us discovered new things about colleagues we've worked with for years but rarely had time to connect with during busy workdays.

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Rewards After the Climb

After our wind-swept hike, we gathered at a local pub for well-deserved food and drinks. The relaxed atmosphere fostered conversations and laughter, with everyone sharing their favourite moments from the walk and enjoying time together away from project deadlines and client meetings.

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Benefits Beyond the Day

This simple outing delivered multiple benefits for our team:

• Physical activity - A welcome change from sitting at desks

• Mental refreshment - Time in nature has proven benefits for reducing stress

• Team bonding - Shared experiences strengthen working relationships

• New perspectives - Stepping away from work helps us return with fresh ideas

The walk also reinforced our understanding of how environments affect well—being, which is central to our work designing and building healthcare and senior living facilities.

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Looking Forward

Following the success of our first Wellness Walk, we plan to make this a regular event. The enthusiasm from everyone involved confirms what we already suspected—sometimes, the best way to enhance productivity and creativity is to step away from work altogether.

The positive effects were evident as we returned to the office the following day. Team members were refreshed and more connected, and they carried the good energy from our shared adventure into our projects.

At INCO, investing in our team's well-being strengthens everything we do. Our Wellness Walk wasn't just a day out but a reflection of our commitment to creating a workplace where people can thrive professionally and personally.

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