Why Padel Is the Perfect Sport for Corporate Team Building
Padel made its debut in the UK Corporate Games sport programme last year, and its popularity was undeniable. The event reached full capacity, with up to 20 different organisations competing, highlighting the sport’s growing appeal in corporate settings. Building on this success, we’re excited to expand the event in 2025, welcoming even more companies to take to the court. This year, the competition will be hosted at the brand-new Slazenger Padel Club in Leeds, featuring 12 state-of-the-art courts, providing the perfect stage for businesses to compete, connect, and experience the thrill of this rapidly growing sport.
Why Is Padel Taking Off?
Racket sports have long been a favourite at the UK Corporate Games, offering a mix of competition, strategy, and social engagement. While traditional events like tennis and table tennis remain popular, padel has quickly emerged as the go-to sport for businesses looking to strengthen teamwork, enhance communication, and promote employee wellbeing.
Padel’s rapid growth can be attributed to its accessibility, social nature, easy to learn and dynamic style of play. A unique blend of tennis and squash, padel is played on an enclosed court, making it perfect for doubles matches with rallies and engaging gameplay. Its format encourages participation from all skill levels, making it an ideal sport for corporate teams.
According to LTA, in Britain, we’re experiencing our own padel boom, with over 230,000 people playing on an annual basis.
Why Is Padel Perfect for Corporate Team-Building?
✔ Easy to Learn, Fun to Play – Simple rules mean beginners can pick it up quickly and start enjoying the game immediately.
✔ Encourages Teamwork & Communication – The doubles format fosters collaboration and quick decision-making, mirroring workplace dynamics.
✔ Low Physical Barrier to Entry – Unlike traditional racket sports, padel is easier on the body, making it accessible to employees of all levels.
✔ Great for Networking – The sport’s social nature makes it a fantastic way to connect with colleagues, clients, and business partners.
✔ Boosts Employee Wellbeing – Regular play helps reduce stress, improve focus, and promote an active lifestyle.
Padel at the UK Corporate Games
Safran, a company that has been actively involved in the UK Corporate Games for the last four years, entered the 2024 Padel event with 20 participants and went on to win the 2024 Padel Championship Award. Reflecting on their experience, Sylvie Darrieumerlou shared:
Padel is the fastest-growing sport in the world, and it’s not difficult to see why: it is easy to pick up from scratch, and anybody can have fun at whatever level they are at. It is a fantastic team sport both on and off the court. The playing pair has to communicate, gel together, and support each other to win. Off the court, players encourage one another regardless of skill level or competitiveness, because having fun and showing respect are the core values of the sport. At Safran, we are creating a padel community that brings players from all levels and functions together—it’s growing rapidly.
Get Your Team Involved!
With padel courts popping up across the UK, now is the perfect time for companies to incorporate the sport into their team-building and wellness initiatives.
Are you ready to introduce padel to your corporate team-building strategies? The UK Corporate Games is the perfect place to start!
Visit the UK Corporate Games website for more information on this year’s event in Leeds: www.corporategamesuk.com
Contact: [email protected] / 01733 83844
