Edinburgh entrepreneur launches new escape room

Edinburgh entrepreneur, Chris Wood, has launched his new venture, Team Machine, which he believes to be the UK’s largest escape room. 

Located in the capital’s city centre, Team Machine is providing an immersive, technologically driven, fun and collaborative escape-room-inspired experience to large groups in Edinburgh, with ambitions to launch Team Machine in other UK cities.

Chris also runs Edinburgh design company, Visual Native and escape-room experience, Escape the Past in Edinburgh, a TripAdvisor Travellers Choice Award winner.   

Commenting on the launch of Team Machine, Chris said: “In-person, immersive experiences are a big growth area globally. 

“I saw a gap in the market to bring a really engaging, escape-room-inspired, social activity that works for larger corporate and consumer groups to my home city of Edinburgh.  Team Machine will be ideal for work events, family and friends’ get-togethers, stag and hen dos and groups of children, including kids’ parties. 

“On the corporate side, with most escape rooms only catering for up to eight people, Team Machine is a great solution for businesses in Edinburgh, looking for a social, team-building activity for eight to 24 people.  It will engage everyone, be competitive enough to provide excitement and enjoyable enough that nobody even realises they’re team building. 

“I felt there was nothing in the current market providing an attractive proposition for large corporate groups,” he added: “We have created something for businesses, looking for a cutting-edge, fun, inclusive activity which is brilliant for getting people in the same room working towards a shared goal.

“We’ve created a ‘cinematic’ feel through special lighting, screens, sounds and other fun components - so taking part feels more like being on a gameshow or inside a video game than a typical escape room.  We can also offer catering and meeting-room hire, tailored to our corporate guests’ needs.” 

“For the consumer market, I felt there was a real opportunity to create a large group escape game like no other, which allows your gathering of family, friends or kids to all interact and have a fun adventure together, without being split into smaller groups.  Whether it’s a school group, kids’ party or a large family gathering – we can tailor the experience, so that everyone is playing together.”

Team Machine is testing the market in Edinburgh and if successful, the plan is to expand into other UK cities.  With a current team of two, the company plans to grow to five full-time members of staff by the end of next year.  It is also looking at expanding into in-house team building.

Research is underway on another potential avenue for Team Machine – offering a facilitated version of the experience to corporate groups. This would involve a professional coach monitoring the team members throughout their session and providing a structured debrief afterwards.  This would provide a more formal team-building option and a way for staff to develop their soft skills while logging continuing professional development accredited hours. 

www.team-machine.co.uk