It’s beginning to look a lot like the Spark Christmas Party…

This is probably going to sound ridiculously cheesy, but hey, it’s Christmas, it’s the time for that kind of thing. One of the reasons I count myself really lucky to have ended up working at Spark is the people – we put a lot of work into building a community where everyone supports one another and gets along.

And after the disruptions of the last few years, there’s something magical about meeting up in December – even if you do have to shift the date due to rail strikes – and sharing food, drinks, and karaoke mikes.

But what’s the secret to a successful work Christmas party? I’d say it boils down to three things:

• Keep it simple: Above all, this is an opportunity to wind down and enjoy each other’s company after a tough year. Meeting in the office, and ensuring there’ll be at least one group photo where everyone looks their best; lunch at a top-notch restaurant (we loved the Granary Square Brasserie); and drinks, secret Santa and karaoke at a nearby pub (we were testing the soundproofing in the Star of Kings) are all you need.

• Don’t go overboard: This isn’t just a case of making sure you pace yourself so you can still get home relatively easily and don’t get on the wrong train. It also means something as simple as not over-spending on the secret Santa. After all, as our very own Tris and many driving instructors say, it’s a limit, not a target. And above all else:

• Remember why you’re there: Like I said, it’s all about the people – recognising all the work we’ve put in over the year, learning who excels at what songs at karaoke, and spending some valuable face-to-face time with everybody.

Maybe I’d get tired if we were doing these every month, but it’s certainly a welcome way to usher in the Christmas spirit. So all that’s left to say from us at Spark is Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and see you all in 2023.