ATFEST 2026
TURNING A NEW WORKPLACE INTO A SPACE FOR CONNECTION, CREATIVITY AND CELEBRATION.
Client: Autotrader
Audience: Autotrader colleagues
Location: Autotrader HQ, Manchester
Services: Creative Direction · Experience Design · Event Production · Event Delivery
THE CHALLENGE
How do you bring colleagues together to celebrate a new workplace — while creating an experience that genuinely has something for everyone?
ATFEST was created as a one-day celebration for Autotrader colleagues, designed to showcase their new office spaces while giving people the opportunity to connect, have fun and experience something a little different from their everyday working environment.
The ambition was clear: create a vibrant, memorable day that felt inclusive by design. Rather than relying on one headline attraction, the experience needed to offer multiple ways to participate, from hands-on creativity and collaborative challenges to live music, performance and quieter moments to pause and recharge.
“A one day celebration with vibrant atmosphere to showcase the new office, creating a truly inclusive experience allowing everyone to enjoy themselves in their own way.”
This wasn’t just about filling a new office with activities. it was about creating a reason for people to explore it, connect with each other and make it their own.
Our Approach
We treated the office itself as the event canvas, using different spaces and existing infrastructure to create a programme that encouraged movement, discovery and participation across the day.
A choice of experiences, not a one-size-fits-all event
Creative workshops gave colleagues the chance to slow down, get hands-on and make something to take away: from plant terrariums and dried flower wreaths to personalised tote bags.
Team challenges brought collaboration and friendly competition into the mix, with LEGO challenges and an immersive tabletop escape-room experience.
The main stage created shared moments, with performances from the Autotrader Choir and live music through Sofar Sounds, bringing colleagues together around something unexpected and entertaining.
The programme was designed for flexibility, with pre-registration available for workshops while allowing on-the-day participation and a system to fill spaces where people dropped out.
The wider office became part of the experience, using digital screens, existing furniture and key workplace spaces to support navigation, information, branding and wellbeing.
CREATING A SPACE FOR EVERYONE
Inclusivity was considered throughout the experience design. Alongside energetic, social activities, colleagues could choose creative, collaborative or more relaxed experiences depending on how they wanted to spend their day.
The existing quiet spaces, prayer room and mental health first-aiders remained part of the event environment, ensuring the celebration felt welcoming and considerate rather than overwhelming.
The result was a programme where participation wasn't prescribed. Colleagues could get involved in the way that suited them, whether that meant building a terrarium, cracking a code, singing along with colleagues or simply enjoying live music and the atmosphere.
The experience was designed to give people the freedom to connect in their own way, while creating plenty of reasons to come together.
THE IMPACT
Results That Mattered
ATFEST transformed the new Autotrader workplace into more than a place to work for the day. It became a shared environment for creativity, connection and celebration.
One-day celebration bringing colleagues together across the workplace.
Multiple participation points designed around different interests, personalities and energy levels.
Creative experiences that encouraged self-expression and gave colleagues something tangible to take home.
Collaborative challenges that encouraged teamwork, problem-solving and friendly competition.
Live performance and music that created collective moments and showcased Autotrader's own talent.
The new office became part of the experience, encouraging colleagues to discover and engage with the space in a completely different way.
Most importantly, ATFEST was designed around a simple principle: there wasn't one right way to experience the event. Whether colleagues came to create, compete, perform, listen, connect or simply enjoy the atmosphere, the programme gave everyone permission to participate on their own terms.
