A Week To Remember: Cobalt's Ski Trip 2026

And just like that, the Cobalt Ski Trip 2026 has come to an end. What an incredible week it’s been for the CEL and site teams.

The Cobalt Group headed to Courmayeur, a beautifully traditional Italian resort, for a chance to spend a week with the team amongst stunning scenery.

We’ve seen some fantastic progress (and plenty of courage!) from our beginner skier and snowboarders, with special thanks to the Courmayeur Ski School for their patient and brilliant instructors!

Each evening, Ian Barrie, our Glacius Ski Travel Specialist, led the groups to pre-booked restaurants, with one highlight being Le Vieux Pommier, where authentic Italian cheese and ham crêpes (crespelle) and cheese risotto were enjoyed, along with a seamless gluten-free experience for Sophie H, thanks to Ian Crummack’s excellent Italian.

For those who still had energy (we’re still wondering how?!)  the groups headed for Café Roma and Café des Skieurs for more chatting, relaxing and taking in the Italian town.

Despite a few tired faces the next mornings, the fresh snowfall made for great days on the slopes - especially for the beginner snowboarders. Ollie B, Graduate Mechanical Engineer, and Becky H, Graduate Mechanical Design Engineer, spent the afternoon guiding Verity S, Marketing Graduate, and Lee M, Gladsmuir Fuel Operator, down their first blue run, although Verity may have gotten a little overconfident towards the end… whoops.

The non-skiers made their way to the Skyway Monte Bianco, soaking in breath-taking views from a 360° viewpoint, under clear blue skies – whilst also showcasing a memorable style choice.

Off the slopes, the beautiful town of Courmayeur offered plenty to explore, with late afternoon browsing and an immensely popular local bakery becoming firm favourites.

Now, for some of our favourite stories from across the week!

On the final night, Melanie W (opting for a vegetarian choice) ordered a tomato salad instead of the charcuterie board and was presented with a literal bowl of tomatoes. Nicki M and Verity S found this far funnier than they probably should have. The table were also briefly “joined” by Shawn Mendes, which sparked a lively discussion about their different music eras.

A shortage of beer glasses led to some creative improvisation, with wine glasses stepping in instead.

Despite the occasional language barrier (and a variety of accents), the trip brought together people from across the business. It’s something I’m sure will make communication—and day-to-day work—all the better.

Watching both rugby matches on the final night sparked some light-hearted rivalry between our Scottish, English and French team members.

There were also a few memorable moments on the slopes:

• Ian Crummack and Ian Barrie's generosity didn't go unnoticed, as they patiently helped our Gladsmuir HR Administrator, Holli Burgess and Head of HR, Kelsey Wallis, build their confidence on the slopes, making sure they got the most out of the experience.
• One of our Electrical Project Engineers, Blake Heaps' impressive face plant on a black run, followed by an equally impressive one-ski descent!
• Verity S' face plant at the bottom of a blue run, quickly followed by the decision to head straight back up.
• Several unsuccessful attempts at getting off the ski lifts gracefully...
• And finally, Commercial Director, Alice Thouvenot, boldly ''reopening'' a black run with a few brave skiers.

James F, Commerical and Marketing Graduate, alongside Alice T and Verity S began organising the trip back in September, exploring a range of resorts and accommodation options before ultimately settling on Italy.

While the process could feel overwhelming at times, the team thoroughly enjoyed helping to create a trip that will stand out as one of the Cobalt Group's best memories. For our graduates, they have felt an immense amount of gratitude for the opportunity to get to know their colleagues outside of work and experience just how welcoming and genuine everyone is.

Although being surrounded by the natural beauty of Mont Blanc was a highlight, the best part was connecting with people from CEL and across the sites, which let to the strengthening of friendships, which is something many hadn’t expected so early in their careers.

We hope everyone took something positive away from the trip - whether that was learning a new skill, exploring a new place, or building new and stronger connections with colleagues.

A huge thank you to Ian Barrie at Glacius Ski Travel Specialists for organising such a seamless trip, allowing the team to focus on what really mattered; team building and enjoying the slopes.

And finally, a big thank you to our CEO, Ian Crummack, whose generosity continues to foster a company culture and camaraderie that truly sets us apart.