Best Sports Team Award winner Badenoch & Clark takes lessons home

Recruitment consultancy Badenoch & Clark, who entered two teams into the Microsoft Challenge on 7thñ11th June 2006, is putting its learns from the event into practice just weeks after competing.

Participants in the Microsoft Challenge were put through a series of Intelligent Sportô challenges specifically designed to test their stamina, strength, intelligence, core team skills and strategic abilities. A variety of day and night stages, kept secret until the very last second, saw teams running, kayaking and mountain biking over tough terrain, as well as code breaking and problem solving, in a bid to complete each stage with the maximum number of bonuses and as few penalties as possible.

Julian Evans, Senior Training Manager at Badenoch & Clark affirms: îItís a great reminder of how important it is to stay calm in a team environment when working under extreme stress. It has also made me consider that other peopleís opinions, however much you initially disagree with them, are given for a valid reason. ì

Steven Kerassitis, Housing Recruitment Manager agrees: ìWe operate in teams at work and it was an invaluable experience to put our teamwork to the test in very different conditions and under huge pressure. It has reminded me to ensure we discuss things in an open and honest manner, and to always look for ways to develop new skills and ideas whilst working towards the same goal.î

Microsoft Challenge participants from Badenoch & Clark, including Evans and Kerassitis, have been sharing their experiences and conclusions from the event with their respective business units since the competition.

One of Badenoch & Clarkís teams was awarded Best Sports Team Award by the organisers, for saving the lives of two teenagers being swept out to sea in their dinghy.

Through its participation Badenoch & Clark has raised 7,000 for the NSPCC, the official charity of Microsoft Challenge.