Why get involved? The Big Lunch for businesses and organisations

The Big Lunch isn’t just a great way to bring communities together – it’s also a smart move for organisations and businesses.

Whether you’re a community group, charity, small start-up or a large corporation, getting involved in The Big Lunch can have lasting benefits for you, your colleagues, workplace culture and brand.

Why The Big Lunch is good for business…

1) Helps create a happier, more productive workforce

Holding a Big Lunch is a fun, informal way to help colleagues get to know one another beyond work tasks and emails. A shared meal breaks down barriers, supports teamwork, helps increase morale and encourage collaboration. Plus, a well-fed, happy team is a productive one!

Taking time to connect over food can boost wellbeing, reduce stress, and improve focus – making us more effective at our jobs in the long run.

How to organise a Big Lunch at work

2) Provides a volunteering opportunity

Many workplaces offer volunteer days, and The Big Lunch is a great way to use them. Employees can take time to plan and set up their lunch or use their volunteer time to support a local community Big Lunch event where they live. With 80% of Big Lunch participants wanting to do more for their community afterwards, it’s a fantastic opportunity to inspire positive action.

4) Helps reduce loneliness and isolation

Loneliness doesn’t just affect individuals; it has a real impact on the workplace, especially with more people working remotely. Research has shown that workplace loneliness leads to lower productivity, increased absenteeism, and higher staff turnover.

The Big Lunch can help by creating opportunities for employees to form meaningful connections, whether in person or online. This helps reduce feelings of isolation and build a stronger sense of belonging at work.

5) Provides a ‘lunch and learn’ opportunity for employees

Why not use The Big Lunch as a chance to share knowledge? Whether it’s a guest speaker, a skills-sharing session, or a discussion on company values, it’s a great way to mix social time with some professional development.

6) A chance to connect with other organisations

Invite neighbouring businesses, clients, or partners to join your Big Lunch and use it as a chance to network in a relaxed setting. It could help open doors to new collaborations and opportunities, as you never know where conversations might take you!

7) A way to say thank you

A simple ‘thank you’ goes a long way. Hosting a Big Lunch is a great way to show appreciation to employees, volunteers, clients and suppliers for their hard work and support. This in turn helps build your businesses’ reputation and create a positive work environment.

8) Lead the way: encourage others to hold Big Lunches

By taking part in The Big Lunch, your business can set an example for others. Inspire other organisations, staff, customers and partners to host their own events and spread the benefits even further.

9) Encourage dwell time

For customer-facing businesses, hosting a Big Lunch can help encourage visitors to stay longer. You could make an afternoon or day of your event, offering different activities and ways to engage those that take part. If you’re not customer facing, why not invite people in for a behind the scenes tour and Big Lunch? Aim to make it enjoyable and fun, for everyone!

10) Helps build brand reputation

A workplace that supports initiatives like The Big Lunch shows that it values its employees and their wellbeing. When businesses encourage participation – whether through flexible lunch breaks, volunteer days, or even match-funding employee-led fundraising – it strengthens their brand sentiment – presenting itself as a positive, people-focused organisation.

See all Big Lunch resources

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