From clay shooting and a tour of our new Boroughbridge depot to a walk through the North Yorkshire countryside and dinner together, our recent team day was a chance to step away from the day-to-day and spend some valuable time together.
At Northern Energy Gas, we’ve always believed that the strength of our business comes from the people behind it.
Established more than 90 years ago, Northern Energy remains a family-run LPG supplier to this day, now supplying homes and businesses nationwide. While we’ve grown significantly over the years, that sense of family, togetherness and personal service remains at the heart of who we are.
Today, our team covers a much wider geographical area, which means colleagues don’t always have the opportunity to see each other regularly. So, when our Area Sales Managers travelled from far and wide to join us in North Yorkshire last week, we wanted to make the most of having everyone together.
With team members making the journey from Reading, the Midlands, Cumbria, Lancashire, Kent, the South West and other areas across the country, it was a rare opportunity to swap phone calls and Teams meetings for some proper face-to-face time.
And we had a full day planned for them!
Starting the day with a little friendly competition
Our first stop was Hazel Bank Shooting Ground near Knaresborough, where we split into three teams ready for a couple of hours of clay pigeon shooting.
Established in 1960, Hazel Bank is a 3.4-acre site dedicated to clay shooting, with a range of different disciplines available in one place. Situated right on the edge of the Vale of York, the ground is surrounded by fantastic views, providing a beautiful North Yorkshire backdrop to the start of our day.
Once everyone had been divided into three teams, the competition could begin.
There was plenty of encouragement between colleagues, a healthy amount of rivalry and unsurprisingly, a fair bit of determination to come out on top!
For some, clay shooting was already familiar territory, while others were trying it for the first time. That was all part of the fun. It wasn’t really about who could hit the most clays, although we’re sure some members of the team might disagree! It was about doing something different together, having a laugh and mixing with colleagues outside the usual working environment.
That is one of the things we value most about team days.
Our Area Sales Managers spend much of their working lives out and about, meeting customers and prospects across their individual territories. With colleagues spread across hundreds of miles, there aren’t always many opportunities to spend relaxed time together. Dividing everyone into three teams gave people the chance to work alongside colleagues they might not ordinarily see regularly, share a few laughs and get to know one another better.
From our heritage to our future
After an enjoyable couple of hours at Hazel Bank, it was time to head to our new Northern Energy Gas depot in Boroughbridge for a tour of the new state-of-the-art depot.
The new facility represents an exciting investment in the future of Northern Energy Gas and our LPG operations, and it was great to be able to show our Area Sales Managers around and give them an opportunity to see it for themselves.
As the people who are out speaking to businesses and homeowners across the country, it’s important that our Area Sales Managers feel connected to the wider Northern Energy operation. Visiting Boroughbridge meant they could see first-hand the investment taking place behind the scenes to support our teams, our LPG operations, our customers and the future growth of the business.
There was also something rather fitting about spending time at Hazel Bank, a North Yorkshire business with a history stretching back to 1960, before heading to our brand-new depot.
Northern Energy itself has more than 90 years of history behind it. While we’re incredibly proud of where we’ve come from, we’re equally excited about where we’re going.
The new Boroughbridge depot is a great example of that. We’re investing in the future while holding onto the values that have shaped our business for generations.
Enjoying the North Yorkshire countryside
After the depot tour, it was time for a change of pace.
We headed to the beautiful village of Brearton for a walk through the North Yorkshire countryside, before we ended the day with a meal together at the village pub, The Malt Shovel, giving everyone the chance to relax, catch up and reflect on the day.
After travelling from different corners of the country, competing against each other at Hazel Bank, exploring our new Boroughbridge depot and walking through the North Yorkshire countryside, sitting down for a meal together was the perfect way to round things off.
For us, the whole day reflected something that has always been important at Northern Energy: taking the time to build genuine relationships.
Why bringing our people together matters
Bringing our people together helps us build stronger working relationships, share knowledge and maintain the family feel that has been part of Northern Energy for generations.
Our Area Sales Managers spend much of their time working independently across different parts of the country, so days like this are an important opportunity to connect with colleagues, exchange experiences and strengthen relationships across the business.
A lot has changed since Northern Energy was first established more than 90 years ago.
Our business has grown, the energy industry has evolved and the geographical area we serve has expanded. We’re also continuing to invest in our operations, facilities and people to make sure Northern Energy is ready for the years ahead.
But some things haven’t changed.
We’re still family-run and we’re still proud of the personal approach and close relationships that have always been part of the Northern Energy family.
Days like this help us protect that culture as the business evolves.
So, while our team-building day involved plenty of clay shooting, a tour of an exciting new facility, some beautiful North Yorkshire scenery and a good meal, the most important part was simply bringing our people together.
A huge thank you to everyone who travelled to North Yorkshire and helped make it such an enjoyable day. We hope the journeys home weren’t too tiring!
And as for which of our three clay shooting teams claimed the bragging rights? We might just leave that one between them.