AT FEST - AUTO TRADER
A ONE-DAY CELEBRATION DESIGNED FOR EVERYONE.
Client: Auto Trader
Audience: 600+ colleagues
Location: Auto Trader HQ, Manchester
Services: Creative Direction · Experience Design · Full Production · Delivery
THE CHALLENGE
Auto Trader is a diverse business, with colleagues from a wide range of backgrounds, identities, and preferences.
They wanted to create a single, all-employee holiday celebration that ensured everyone felt included, represented, and comfortable, while transforming their Manchester office into a vibrant and joyous space for celebration.
The challenge was to move away from traditional formats and design an experience that genuinely worked for everyone bringing different teams together without forcing a one-size-fits-all version of fun.
THE EXPERIENCE
ATFEST “A Little Something for Everyone”. We created ATFEST, a one-day, in-office celebration designed around choice, personality, and inclusion.
The concept was built on the four layers of the diversity model, with a deliberate focus on the innermost layer: personality. Rather than leaning into surface-level or token gestures, we wanted to create something universal allowing people to engage in ways that felt natural to them.
To shape the experience, we developed a bookable programme of activities informed by different personality types, sense-checking ideas against a range of traits to ensure balance and accessibility.
Across the day, colleagues could choose from:
Creative workshops including wreath-making and candle-making
Interactive photo moments and social games
Quiet spaces, book exchanges, and film screenings
Games corners and low-pressure group activities
We partnered with MattB Customs and Sofar Sounds to introduce distinctive brand partnerships enhancing the experience while encouraging genuine employee advocacy.
The goal was simple: for every person to enjoy the day in their own way, take part in activities that sparked joy, and celebrate in a manner that suited them.
THE IMPACT
Over 600 individual tracked activity participations
Strong engagement across departments and teams
A fully activated office environment throughout the day
A clear objective achieved: bringing different teams together through shared experience
CLIENT FEEDBACK
“From the moment we met Joseph and his brilliant team, we knew we wanted to work together — it just felt like the perfect match. They bring that special mix of creativity, warmth, and heaps of industry experience.
From the initial brief to the event itself, they were engaged, responsive, and an absolute joy to work with. They didn’t just run an event; they created a brilliant experience and blended so seamlessly with our team that it felt like they were part of it.
Every detail was considered, and it really showed. We were so impressed that we’re partnering with them again!”
