9 Inspiring Small Workshop Ideas (2025)

Corporate events don’t have to be confined to conference rooms. If you’re looking to host a productive but fun corporate event, these small workshop ideas are the perfect opportunities for learning, networking, and team bonding. Brush up on some skills, bring your employees together, or learn something entirely new with our workshop ideas.

With Peerspace, you can find unique workshop venues or event spaces — such as a restaurant, historic estate, gallery, or winery — that suit your company’s needs, budget, and objectives. Choose inspiring spaces with an outdoor area, photo-ready decor, a kitchen, projectors, and anything else you need to make your event a success. Host the following workshop ideas at a pristine, private, and inspiring Peerspace workshop venue and your event is sure to be a success!

1. Book a cool workshop venue with ease on Peerspace

No matter which small workshop idea you choose, you’re going to need a place to host it. And let’s face it: your office conference room just doesn’t cut it. Peerspace is the largest online marketplace for hourly venue rentals and can help you find the perfect space that complements your workshop theme and accommodates the activities on the agenda.

Use Peerspace to book inspiring lofts, galleries, restaurants, rooftop terraces, outdoor patios, and more, all available to rent by the hour. Since rental prices vary, those on a budget can easily find a venue as well. The right venue will help your workshop to flow naturally. And, people will be more likely to listen and share in a friendly, relaxed setting.

A few of our favorite workshop venue options include:

• This collaborative workshop event space in Center City Philadelphia, PA (pictured above) with a conference room, a lounge, seating, a projector, and optional catering services.
• This rustic log cabin with breathtaking views in Lake Arrowhead, CA with a stone fireplace, a wrap-around balcony, and hiking and biking trails.
• This spacious Lake View loft in Chicago, IL with an open floor plan, a rustic ambiance, an on-site kitchenette, and a large-screen TV.
• This Westside modern home with a farmhouse touch in Atlanta, GA with beautiful decor, an airy and inviting atmosphere, a modern kitchen, and a furnished patio.

These are just a small sampling of the types of venues that you can book for your workshop. All provide you with a private and welcoming space with an array of amenities that ensure you have a successful event. If you find the perfect spot but it’s missing something, reach out to the venue’s local host. They’re dedicated to your success and can often help you procure extra amenities, be it catering or A/V equipment.

2. Hire a professional to help improve your team’s writing skills

Written communication is a crucial skill for almost any industry. And we’ve all seen professional written communications filled with unclear ideas and poor grammar. But this small workshop idea can put an end to that in your workplace. Bring in a professor from a local university, a freelancer, an author, or a consultant, and ask everyone to bring their laptops and put their writer hats on. You can find experts in marketing writing, email communication, technical writing, or any area that fits your company’s needs.

Check out incredible writer-inspired venues on Peerspace to host your writer’s workshop. One amazing example is this private large house on 2.5 acres in Valley Center, CA. It is a spacious and elegant home perched above the valley and surrounded by nature. Its pool, furnished patio, and gourmet kitchen are sure to inspire your writers as they improve their skills.

Whether you end up booking a cabin retreat, a mountainside penthouse, or a cozy office space, the right atmosphere can help the words flow better. Offering your staff the ability to sharpen their skills and receive feedback on their writing is invaluable. And believe us, your company’s overall brand will be better for it.

3. Cultivate a workplace of emotional intelligence

Sharpen soft skills with a workshop on emotional intelligence. No matter what industry you are in, chances are you deal with people in some capacity, whether it’s clients, customers, or simply other employees. When it comes to the ultimate goal of these small workshop ideas, the objective is to help your team work well with others, resolve conflict, and build trust. TED Talk presenters like Brene Brown often host corporate workshops on topics they lecture about.

In addition, consider TEDx speaker Dr. Jennifer Thomas. She collaborated with Gary Chapman, who popularized the Five Love Languages, on a book about making better apologies. She is also currently a speaker for corporate events. There is a related movement called Appreciation at Work, which helps companies build a better workplace culture where all employees feel that their contributions are recognized and valued. Focus on improving communication and relationships among your employees. Building a healthy culture at work will improve all areas of the company.

Never hosted a workshop before? Start from the ground up with our what is a workshop? guide.

4. Host a networking workshop to help your group connect

Even in this digital age of social media connections, networking is so much more than just sending requests on LinkedIn. Bring in a networking expert to teach your staff members the art of making real-life work-related connections. Provide coffee, tea, and light bites, and have participants practice getting to know each other with icebreakers and elevator pitches.

Opt for a spacious, open-concept venue with plenty of outdoor access on Peerspace. Or solely an outdoor venue if your climate allows. People will feel more comfortable mingling in a properly ventilated space, especially one with killer amenities and views.

5. Practice work-life balance with self-care

Everyone needs to be able to unwind and learn how to leave work at work at the end of the day. Your employees’ mental health matters, so show you care by hosting a workshop focused on self-care. Bring in a yoga instructor or a health educator to lead the workshop. And for an extra special touch, send everyone home with a swag bag of self-care goodies like tea, skincare products, aromatherapy, adult coloring books, or other crafts, as well as a good book or two.

To ensure you have the proper equipment at hand, book a fitness studio on Peerspace. If you’re in the Austin, TX area, we have to recommend this gorgeous yoga studio and event space in West Lake Hills. It is a chic and colorful space that provides you with meditation cushions, yoga mats and blocks, Sonos speakers, and even an outdoor yoga deck so you can promote wellness indoors and out.

6. Learn about branding and marketing

You could argue that every employee and department plays a role in shaping the company’s brand image. Therefore, a marketing workshop might be relevant to everyone on the team. Bring in a marketing expert or buy access to an online course that everyone can move through together in the workshop. Ideally, you’ll want something with lots of videos, activities, and other visuals so that everyone can stay engaged. Online education is booming, so there is bound to be a course that fits your workshop needs.

HubSpot offers a variety of free marketing courses on everything from content marketing to SEO basics. Websites like Udemy and Udacity have a wide selection of educational tools.

Check out these branding photoshoot ideas to discover more powerful ways to make your company and employees stand out.

7. Emphasize the importance of diversity and inclusion

While workshops that promote inclusion and offer diversity training are sometimes mandatory, hosting a more intimate workshop designed specifically for your team might be more constructive. Discuss topics like LGBTQ+ allyship, pronouns, and microaggressions.

Bring in a professor who studies these topics. The instructor can prepare a relevant lecture for your team and ask for input from your employees on any changes they would like to see in the workplace regarding diversity and inclusion. It’s never too late to begin dialogues such as these. And it can help create or broaden an atmosphere of openness and understanding beneficial to any business.

8. Start important conversations that brooch crucial topics

Sometimes the employee handbook doesn’t provide enough information when it comes to issues in the office. Host a town hall on workplace issues, such as sexual harassment, racism, sexism, and anything else that arises. Create an open dialogue and a safe space for everyone to voice their concerns. You can find discussion guides online that will help you facilitate this workshop smoothly and civilly.

This is one of those small workshop ideas that will not only help improve employee relationships but also boost team morale and motivation.

9. Let your team choose the next workshop idea

Maybe there’s a new skill or certification your employees would like to acquire. Send out a poll via Google Forms or Survey Monkey to find out what kind of workshop would most benefit your team. You may end up deciding to host a series of different workshops. After all, safety practices and other relevant skills and certifications for career advancement can vary from department to department.

Small workshop ideas are better with Peerspace

Workshops aren’t just fun and welcome breaks from routine. They can be extremely effective by helping to create a better office culture that lasts long after the workshop wraps up. Workshops can also further educate and motivate employees, giving them skills and insights that serve you all. These small workshop ideas can benefit your team and lead to a brighter future for your company.

With these ideas in your back pocket, all that’s left to do now is to book that perfect workshop venue through Peerspace. Browse our website for spaces that inspire you and that match your workshop’s theme. And remember, if you need help making the most of your booking, be sure to reach out to the venue’s local host. Peerspace hosts are dedicated to ensuring your event is a success.

Find unique workshop venues on Peerspace