Contents:
The history of Builders’ Day
The idea of establishing Builders’ Day emerged in the postwar years, when the Soviet Union was experiencing a construction boom. The country was rebuilding after the Great Patriotic War, and construction workers played a key role in that process.
The holiday was officially established by a decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR on September 6, 1955, and was first celebrated on August 12, 1956.
Builders’ Day became a traditional holiday in Russia and several other post-Soviet states. It remains a symbol of respect for people who work with concrete, bricks, wood, machinery and drawings. In Russia, it is celebrated on the second Sunday in August; dates in other countries should be checked separately. You can also use the company celebration ideas below for another professional holiday for your team.
How to celebrate Builders’ Day: 7 ideas
Here are some ideas for a company party, a celebration with your family or simply a day outdoors with colleagues:
1. An outdoor barbecue
A timeless classic: head out of town, light the grill, put on some music and get the meat and drinks ready. Bring a hookah if you like, or play volleyball or football. You could also hold a barbecue contest to find out which crew has the best grilling skills.
2. A sauna, Russian banya or hammam
Whatever anyone says, construction work is stressful. A visit to the baths is a chance to relax and truly unwind. Bring watermelon, crisps and some non-alcoholic drinks (or something stronger), order grilled meat and enjoy an evening together.
3. A mini-tournament: football, arm wrestling or tug of war
Split into teams and hold a small championship. You could announce it in advance and arrange a couple of practice sessions before the tournament. Prepare gifts for the winners, such as branded gloves, caps or even a tool, then round off the games with a visit to a sauna or another venue.
It will be easier to set aside money for this celebration or any other if you manage your company funds in the 101 App (in Russian). There, you can track project balances, set aside funds for different goals and monitor analytics.
4. Adventures on the water
Summer offers plenty of possibilities, from paddleboarding to a full sailing regatta. Your budget determines what is possible, and providers offering a wide range of activities can help arrange outings for your company.
5. Adventure challenges
Arrange an adventure challenge inspired by Fort Boyard. It can become a team-building experience that brings everyone together. There are engaging challenges with difficult tasks, puzzles and complete immersion in a story.
6. Mafia
This familiar party game gives you a reason to get together, test your powers of persuasion when you need to convince others that you are not a Mafia member, and have fun.
7. Fishing
A good choice for a trip out of town, especially if your celebration combines a picnic with time in nature. Fish soup, camp cooking and tea from a samovar will set the scene. For team members who do not enjoy fishing, you can arrange board games or mini-golf.
Builders’ Day competitions outdoors or indoors
Here are a few competition ideas that could fit into your Builders’ Day programme:
1. Build a tower: a race for height and speed
Give each participant the same set of materials: blocks, plastic cups, foam bricks or pallets, depending on the venue. The challenge is to build the tallest stable tower within a time limit.
2. The craftsperson’s challenge
A team challenge with construction-themed tasks: drive in a self-tapping screw, identify a tool by touch or assemble a simple model house. Adapt it for an indoor venue or turn it into an outdoor adventure. It will be especially interesting if your company party brings together different specialists, from drywall installers to roofers. Everyone can get to know their colleagues’ tools and ways of working.
3. A funny dress code
Give teams construction clothing and ask them to create the most stylish or ridiculous outfit. They make their entrance to music while a jury judges their look, charisma and creativity. Collect a variety of clothing and footwear for the competition, from branded workwear to the odd flip-flops someone wears around the office or the site foreman’s favourite cap.
4. The “Finish it fast!” relay
Teams of 3–4 people complete a series of light-hearted challenges:
- carry a “bucket of filler” filled with water without spilling it;
- put up “wallpaper”, using a large sheet of drawing paper, quickly and evenly;
- carefully “grout the joints” between imitation tiles made, for example, from cardboard;
- drive a self-tapping screw into a plywood stand as quickly as possible;
- and, of course, explain to the client why the job is not finished yet, with a theatrical performance and some improvisation.
5. Guess the price of a building material
A quiz: show participants photographs or real samples of building materials and ask them to guess the current price, or at least the approximate cost. The team with the most accurate answers wins.
What should you give for Builders’ Day?
A gift from management does not have to be a bonus. A useful item and a company celebration can help support team spirit.
Here are some ideas that company managers and close friends of construction workers can use:
- An insulated mug or flask
- An impact driver bit and a case
- Good gloves or safety glasses
- A gift card for a building supplies store, such as Lemana PRO or Petrovich in Russia
- A sweatshirt with the phrase “I’m building the country”
- A hookah, if the team enjoys it
- Money. No explanation needed
- Recordings of professional reviews of construction businesses
Recordings of professional business reviews can be a gift for a builder or finishing specialist who wants to grow their company. Choose materials with specific examples of estimates, management accounting and work organisation. Before buying, check the programme, the language of the recordings and the access conditions.
How can you find time to celebrate?
This is one of the biggest questions when organising a company celebration. Even company owners, let alone project managers and site foremen, often spend every day rushing between sites, estimates, reports, conversations with clients and the search for skilled workers. Where can you find the energy and time for a celebration?
Introduce the 101 App into your company’s work. If you are tired of making estimates in Excel, cannot remember how much you owe each person, do not know where the money goes and have forgotten who bought the cement, you could use the app.
It will greatly simplify management accounting, let you control spending of funds entrusted to employees (in Russian) and make it easy to prepare the documents your clients need. To learn more about how the 101 App can change your business, join a free product tour, where you will learn about the app’s features, capabilities and benefits.
