Jonny looks back at our latest get-together in Suffolk, with barbecue, big conversations about AI, and a few games of pool.
Last week the Infotex team met up at Holbecks House in Hadleigh, near Ipswich, for our latest company gathering. We work together every day, but time spent in the same place, away from the usual routine, is hard to beat. Here’s how it went.
Wednesday: Barbecue and Big Conversations
A few of us arrived on Wednesday in time for dinner. I was in charge of the barbecue, which suited me fine. Once everyone had eaten, we settled in for a long evening of chatting.
The talk soon turned to the digital world we all work in. With so many technical people in one room, it didn’t take long to get onto AI and how quickly it’s changing the way we live and work. There were plenty of opinions and a lot of good questions, and it set the tone for the next day.
Once inside the old hall, as the evening wore on and brains became more blurry, the AI debate segued naturally into the existence of ghosts and the likelihood of any spiritual visitations during the night. In the end, everyone slept soundly.
Thursday: A Packed Agenda
The rest of the team arrived on Thursday morning, and we had a full day of sessions ahead.
Digital marketing. We picked up where our last business development meeting left off. We also looked at where our tools and services overlap, and where we could bring them together to make things simpler for clients.
Brand and marketing. This was an open, honest discussion about our place in the market and how we present ourselves. We also talked through our brand guidelines, so everything we share looks and sounds like Infotex.
Updates and security. I was part of this session. Updates and security patches now come out almost daily, so we looked at how to make our process quicker and more efficient, with our clients’ security at the forefront of every decision.
Business update. Ant brought everyone up to speed on where the business is and where it’s heading. His assessment of our place in the world remaining as relevant as ever, come what may, I found reassuring.
Artificial intelligence. This was the big one. AI is a regular topic at our gatherings, usually as a catch-up on what everyone’s been trying. This time we made it a proper workshop. Design, marketing, systems, development and project management each talked through how they’re using AI in their work, what’s helping, what isn’t, and what it costs. Hearing it from every part of the business made it clear how differently we each use it, so we agreed on next steps, including projects to bring more consistency to areas like documentation, planning and quoting. We also covered security and confidentiality guidelines, and what the EU Artificial Intelligence Act means for our work. Getting this right matters: it means client data is handled the same careful way whoever is working on it.
By the afternoon, a few of us needed some fresh air, so we walked a short stretch of the Hadleigh Wool Walk. It was a nice way to clear our heads after a busy day.
In the evening we all went to the King’s Head in Hadleigh for dinner and drinks. Then we headed back to the house for a few competitive games of pool in the games room.
Friday: Back to the Office, Then Pizza in the Sun
On Friday we met up at the office for a more normal working day. To finish, we headed to The Woodyard in Woodbridge. Going there together for pizza at the end of a gathering has become a bit of a tradition for us. This time we sat outside in the sunshine, and it was a lovely way to round things off.
Why These Gatherings Matter
I really enjoy these gatherings. They’re a chance to relax, chat and spend time with my colleagues away from our screens, even if the conversation always drifts back to tech. I think that says a lot about the team: we all love what we do and take a real interest in it, even over a pint or a game of pool.
Here’s to the next one!!!
