Back Together for September

September has a different energy in the workplace. Summer holidays are drawing to a close, diaries are filling up and offices that felt a little quieter during August are beginning to find their usual rhythm again.

While some of us were enjoying a summer break, plenty of people were still at their desks keeping things moving. Covering for colleagues, managing projects and making sure everyday office life continued as usual all takes effort, so September feels like a good time to recognise the people who helped keep everything on track.

Now with more of the team back together, it's an opportunity to catch up, say thank you and start the new month on a positive note.

One of the things I’m enjoying most about putting the Tasty Calendar together is discovering just how many food awareness and appreciation days there are and learning the stories behind them along the way. Some are familiar, others I've never come across before, and there's always something new to discover. But sometimes, you don't need an official food day to find a reason to get people around the table.

The return from the summer holidays doesn't need a big celebration. Sometimes it's simply about creating an opportunity for people to spend a little time together. A team breakfast can brighten up the start of the working day, lunch around a shared table gives colleagues a chance to catch up properly, and an afternoon delivery of cakes and sweet treats can be an equally easy way to welcome everyone back.

It's also a good opportunity to bring new starters into the fold, reconnect teams that have been working around different holiday schedules and look ahead to the busy months still to come. There's no need to wait for a company event or important meeting. An ordinary working day is reason enough to get everyone away from their screens and around the same table for a while.

For those who spent much of August keeping things ticking over, September is also a chance to show a little appreciation. That doesn't have to mean singling people out or organising something elaborate. A breakfast or lunch for the whole team allows everyone to enjoy the occasion while still acknowledging the extra effort that often goes into covering the summer holiday period.

Whether someone has just returned from two weeks away or has been holding the fort throughout August, September is about having everyone back on the same team.

There are plenty of ways to fit a September get-together around the working day. Breakfast works particularly well for morning meetings and early starts. A catered lunch gives everyone a little more time to sit down and talk, while cakes and sweet treats are an easy option for an afternoon pick-me-up.

For bigger teams, sharing platters, grazing boxes and buffet menus provide plenty of variety while keeping things relaxed and informal.

September may not come with an official reason to celebrate, but perhaps it doesn't need one. It's a chance to welcome colleagues back, reconnect after the summer and recognise the people who kept everything running while the office was a little quieter.

So, here's to the people returning from their holidays, the people who held the fort while they were away and the teams getting back into the swing of things together.

To good food, good company and having the team back together.