Great balls of paint! International Forwarding Limited (IFL) recently spent a day out at a local paintball centre in Birmingham where the missions came thick and fast for staff more used to unloading pallets than ammo.
A team of 15 ‘ballers’ – made up of warehouse operators, drivers and some office staff – signed up for the day of friendly fire at Delta Force Paintball, Hockley Heath, Birmingham. Here they are getting a briefing in the bunker before going into action…
Players then split into teams and played a number of games throughout the day, often with a time-limited mission attached – from being the first to raise the flag to retrieving a zombie head from a crypt.
International Forwarding’s Transport Manager Tim Johnson was the person who put forward the paintball idea, and it was swiftly supported as a company event.
“We have done paintball before as we have someone here who does it as a hobby,” says Tim. “We all work different shifts and finish at different times so it’s nice to be able to do something together outside of work – and a paintballing day seemed like a bit of fun. Ultimately it’s just a good excuse to shoot each other!”
Ultimate teamwork
Paintball is often billed as a corporate teambuilding activity: to relieve stress, boost teamwork, and develop communication, leadership and problem-solving skills. But mostly it’s a fun day out for colleagues to socialise outside of work.
“It was really good fun,” says Tim. “People came in on Monday covered in bruises (players wear body armour but arms and legs are left ‘exposed’) – but everyone enjoyed it.
“We’re now looking at setting up other team activities, such as go karting and footgolf (in which players kick a soccer ball into a cup in as few shots as possible). Or maybe another Wolf Run challenge or charity swim.
“It can be hard to find something that all members of the team can enjoy but some staff have suggested a pamper/spa day next – and after a day in the battlezone, I reckon a few of the paintballers would be up for that!”
