Our 2025 Staff Spectacular in Llandudno: Training, Teamwork & Christmas Cheer

Every year, the whole Pioneer Environment team gets together for our Staff Spectacular — a few days dedicated to CPD training, catching up with colleagues from across our offices, and celebrating the year with some well-earned festive fun. It’s always one of the highlights of our calendar, and this year’s trip to Llandudno in beautiful North Wales did not disappoint.

We settled into the lovely Llandudno Bay Hotel for two nights, and from the moment we all arrived, you could feel the buzz of everyone being back together again.

Monday: Catch-ups, Quizzes & Slightly Too Many Drinks

We kicked things off on Monday 1st December with a relaxed meet-up at the hotel before heading out for dinner and drinks at the local Wetherspoons. From there, the evening naturally drifted to the Ormo Lounge where our legendary annual quiz — lovingly (and fiendishly) written by our Business and Administration Manager, Sam Bryan — put our collective brainpower to the test.

As usual, Sam didn’t go easy on us. It was a close-run battle, but in the end, bragging rights went to the team who managed to pull victory out of the chaos. (And yes, they’re still talking about it.)

Tuesday Morning: Website Sneak Peek & Swift Conservation

Tuesday began with a presentation from Director Oliver Amy and an exciting preview of our soon-to-launch new website. It’s always motivating to see how much the company continues to grow and evolve — and to be reminded that every one of our teams plays a part in that.

Then it was time for our first CPD session: Swift Conservation with Ben Stammers of the North Wales Wildlife Trust. Swifts are one of the UK’s most iconic aerial species, but they’re facing significant declines due to habitat loss and reduction of insect numbers. Understanding their ecology — and how to incorporate effective mitigation into our work — is essential for us as ecologists.(If you want to dive deeper, we’ve shared more about swifts in our blog.)

Tuesday Afternoon: Exploring the Little Orme

After lunch, we set off for the Little Orme, the dramatic limestone headland that marks the edge of Llandudno and overlooks Penrhyn Bay. Often overshadowed by its bigger sibling, the Great Orme, the Little Orme is a quietly spectacular gem — and a designated wildlife-rich site with a long history of quarrying, wartime use, and coastal conservation.

Today, it’s a haven for seabirds. Kittiwakes, razorbills, guillemots and shags nest on its towering cliffs, filling the air with their calls. Down below lies Angel Bay, where grey seals haul out year-round and pupping season runs from September to December. We were lucky enough to spot some of the final pups of the season — a real highlight for everyone.

With its network of footpaths and even an audio trail explaining the site’s cultural and ecological significance, the Little Orme is one of those places that reminds us why we do what we do.

Tuesday Evening: Secret Santa & Christmas Dinner

After a quick freshen-up back at the hotel, it was time for Secret Santa — eco edition, naturally – and the Christmas outfit competition. The gifts didn’t disappoint (nor did the ensembles), and we rounded off the night with a festive feast and drinks at Wildwood. As always, the combination of good food, good company, and several impromptu rounds of charades made for a brilliant evening.

Wednesday: Bryophytes at Pensychnant & Farewell Photos

Wednesday morning began with… well, let’s call it a “gentle” start for most of us. Thankfully, fresh air and enthusiasm awaited at the Pensychnant Conservation Centre, nestled on the slopes of Conwy Mountain.

Pensychnant is a Victorian estate turned conservation charity, protecting a stunning mix of heathland, woodland, and upland habitats. It’s home to countless bird species, mammals, insects, and an incredible diversity of mosses, liverworts and lichens thanks to the area’s clean air and damp Welsh climate.

Our CPD session there was led by Bryophyte expert Philippa Thompson, whose passion for these tiny plants is truly infectious. Exploring the reserve’s woodlands with her gave us a renewed appreciation for the overlooked building blocks of our ecosystems — and a reminder that even the smallest species play a crucial role in biodiversity.

Before heading home, we squeezed in a quick photoshoot for our new website (coming soon!) and then it was time for the hardest part of the trip: saying goodbye.

Why These Trips Matter

With colleagues based across multiple offices, it can be easy to feel like we’re working worlds apart. That’s why our annual Staff Spectacular is so important — it brings us together, recharges our sense of teamwork, and gives us space to reconnect with the purpose behind our work.

This year’s trip had everything we love: learning, laughter, beautiful landscapes, and the reminder that Pioneer Environment isn’t just a workplace — it’s a community of people who genuinely enjoy working together.

We’re already counting down the days to next year!