Everyone’s got to eat and everyone’s got to learn. Or, at least most working professionals want to learn and grow in their knowledge and skills.
Enter: the lunch-and-learn.
Hosting an event like this can help build your professional reputation, connect with other professionals or clients, strengthen internal team dynamics, and establish yourself as an industry leader.
Here’s what lunch-and-learns are all about, why you should host one, and how to go about it.
What is a Lunch-and-Learn?
Because of a reputation for being boring or overdone, some people might cringe at the very term. But a lunch-and-learn can offer real value when done correctly! Meaningful content in a flexible event space with good food is a way to counteract any resistance to this type of event.
A lunch-and-learn is as simple as its name: a chance for professionals to learn or develop skills while gathering to eat lunch. Within that basic definition, it can take a lot of forms.
Choosing a flexible event space can help determine the style and set-up of your event. Here are some common examples:
- Seminars and talks on current industry news, ideas, or trends
- Internal team training or company updates
- New product launch or training (i.e., a new software program that may benefit entrepreneurs or self-employed individuals)
- Workshops on career development, upskilling, or personal growth
- Presentations on timely and relevant socio-cultural topics (i.e., diversity and inclusion, economic conditions, important policy or political changes)
- Panel discussion or Q&A with experts and industry leaders
There are many great ways to learn today, from low-cost online learning platforms to Netflix movies with business lessons. But lunch-and-learn events are unique to other formats. In-person events in a flexible event space allow you to really get creative and offer something different.
They’re also a short, mid-day break that focuses on providing valuable content, all of which make them accessible and interesting to working professionals.
Why Host a Lunch-and-Learn?
You’re a busy professional and so are those you’re trying to reach. A lunch-and-learn event is a time-efficient way to network with others in your industry or reach prospective clients and customers. It’s also a great excuse to bring out some of your new hybrid work wardrobe pieces and dress up a bit!
There are a number of benefits to hosting an event like this:
- Networking with like-minded professionals
- Establishing yourself as a thought-leader and expert in your field
- Finding prospective clients and customers
- Giving back to the community you’re part of
- Developing strong communication and presentation skills
How to Host a Lunch-and-Learn
When planning a lunch-and-learn event, you need to think about three things: what it’s all about, where you’re going to host it, and how you’re going to get people there.
Content
The first thing to consider when hosting a lunch-and-learn is your content. What’s the main purpose and point of hosting an event?
We laid out some common types of lunch-and-learns above. Consider those options and use these prompts to guide the content you develop:
- Always think of the value you can offer: This type of event is the perfect chance to display your unique expertise and knowledge. You offer value by offering something new to the audience—something you are uniquely positioned to give.
- Prioritize connection: Lunchtime is already a great opportunity for connection. Build in some interactive moments in your presentation so that people can talk with each other and build relationships with other professionals. Flexible event space allows you to set up the room in a way that prioritizes connection, too.
- Put the sales pitch away: People know when they’re being sold too. While it’s appropriate to offer a CTA (call to action) for your company or organization, keep it brief and not the main focus of your event. Instead, keep focusing on value and connection, which will naturally lead to more people seeking your services.
- Make it engaging: Remember that your event is everyone else’s lunch break—a chance to disconnect from their typical daily workload and engage in something new over some good food. So, keep it light, fun, and engaging so that people don’t get bored or feel that it’s a waste of time.
Besides your presentation or workshop, your “content” includes lunch! Some lunch-and-learn events are BYOL, but a catered lunch in a flexible event space is a better option to attract and reach more people.
If you’re here in Tucson, you may already be familiar with some of the best lunch spots in Tucson and Oro Valley. A few of our nearby favorites that cater are:
- Guadalajara Original Grill (Mexican food)
- Beyond Bread (Sandwiches, soups, and desserts)
- Café a la C’Art (Appetizers such as Spanish tapas or Middle Eastern mezze)
Instead of a fully-catered meal, you may also choose to offer complimentary tea and coffee or some desserts. Whichever route you go, food is always a good incentive to increase your attendance.
Space
After content, space is an important consideration for your lunch-and-learn. Choosing the right venue can help or hinder the goals of your event. If your goal, for example, is to reconnect and engage with your remote team, an off-site meeting can be inspiring and energizing—just the thing to bring people back together.
As many companies operate on remote or hybrid schedules, traditional offices with flexible event spaces are less common. And, many entrepreneurs or self-employed small business owners don’t have access to dedicated space at all.
Professional, accessible, and fully-equipped flex space is a good option for professionals in this situation. The Post’s flexible event space can be customized to your event’s needs, such as a specific layout and A/V equipment. We also have a professional team that offers upscale hospitality services to make your event shine.
Here are two things to keep in mind for your lunch-and-learn venue:
- Size, location, and accessibility: Consider practical needs such as how large the room should be and what the layout is like. Also, consider its accessibility to everyone and where it’s located. Our flexible event space at The Post is ideally located in Tucson for professionals to easily commute to.
- Amenities and services: Beyond physical space, consider the service and amenities of your venue. Things to consider are catering services, A/V equipment, administrative support, room layout, or complimentary coffee and tea.
You can also review our guide on meeting space in Tucson and the nine things to look for.
Promotion
Your content and space are all ready to go—time to promote. How are you going to get the word out and make people excited about your lunch-and-learn?
The most common strategies include emails and social media to get the word in addition to physical posters in strategic locations (i.e., coworking space community boards or targeted businesses). Additionally, try these ideas:
- Coordinate promotions with your venue provider and caterer. If you book The Post’s flexible event space for a public event, we can support your event by sharing it with our members and community. You can also ask the caterer to promote your event through their marketing channels.
- Send personal invites. You can simply drop a handwritten note on your colleague’s desk or send a thoughtful email to a business connection.
A lunch-and-learn event is a great way to build business connections, provide valuable information to potential clients, and be part of a professional community. It’s a way to establish yourself as a leader in your industry, too.
Finding the right space for your event is one of the most important things you can do. If you want to host a lunch-and-learn for your team or customers, book a tour of The Post’s flex space today to see if it’s the right fit.