Utrecht-based startup Channable has incorporated the Utrecht Photo Challenge into their employee onboarding program, for new employees to get to know each other, the city and the company culture in a fun way.
ONBOARDING AT CHANNABLE
Channable is a fast-growing IT startup based in Utrecht. To develop their business, Channable hires around 5 to 10 new colleagues from all over the world on a monthly basis.
Channable puts a lot of care into integrating new colleagues on a personal level and giving them an onboarding experience they won’t forget. For instance, CEO Rob van Nuenen personally welcomes new employees by telling them the company’s story.
THE FIRST DAY
According to Marloes van Overhagen, HR Manager at Channable:
“We started noticing that the first day was quite intense for new hires and the information that was given at the end of the afternoon didn’t stick too well.”
SHAKING THINGS UP
“We wanted to add a fun element to our new hires’ first day, but we also wanted to use this precious time for them to learn about our company culture” Marloes explains. “That’s how we decided on the Utrecht Photo Challenge, which really ticks all of our boxes.”
THE UTRECHT PHOTO CHALLENGE ONBOARDING GAME
The Utrecht Photo Challenge is a 2-hour city game in the beautiful city center of Utrecht.
The goal? Find the hidden locations and recreate the model pictures with a Polaroid camera.
In the special onboarding version of the game, we added an extra element: for each location, players have to answer a question about the company culture. A fun and engaging way to get to know each other, the city, and the company.
CHANNABLE X UTRECHT PHOTO CHALLENGE
We have partnered up with Channable to add a personalized monthly Photo Challenge to their onboarding day. Thanks to our onboarding package, Channable’s HR team doesn’t need to worry about booking a spot or settling on an exact number of participants. We take all of the planning off of Channable’s hands and provide their new hires with a fun activity to end their first day with a bang!
The challenges in the pictures make it fun for both locals and those who are new to the city. Players get to keep their Polaroids, which make for hilarious office decoration. According to Marloes, the city game has been a great way for new colleagues to bond.
“Months later, I still see colleagues who played the Utrecht Photo Challenge together sit side by side at the lunch table!”
The way that our challenge gets internationals acquainted with their new home town is a huge benefit to Channable.
“We believe that if our colleagues connect with their new city, they’ll be happier here and stay longer,” Marloes explains. “With the Utrecht Photo Challenge, they get to know the city right on their first day.”
WHAT NEW HIRES SAY
According to Jaume, Spanish Software Developer who moved to Utrecht for work:
“Ending the day with the Utrecht Photo Challenge added a lot to my first experience at Channable. Solving the clues was fun, and it was a good opportunity to build memories with my new colleagues. We even laughed so much at our (failed) pictures that our stomachs started hurting!”
“We all came from different departments, with different backgrounds and interests. The time we spent together at the end of the challenge allowed us to get to know each other while enjoying some beers.”
READY TO GIVE YOUR ONBOARDING AN UPGRADE?
We provide Channable with a consistent, reliable, and, most of all, fun team-building activity for their new hires to get to know each other, the city and the company in a spontaneous way.
Do you, too, want to give your new starters an unforgettable first experience?
