Peckforton Castle, Corporate Retreat with Virgin Media (Now VM O2)
A sales team retreat in Cheshire, UK
Client: Virgin Media (VM O2)
Venue: Peckforton Castle
Location: Cheshire, UK
Objective
Virgin Media approached us with a challenge: to re-energise and align their nationwide sales team heading into a new fiscal year, while giving senior leadership a platform to communicate vision and strategy in a memorable, engaging way. The goal was to foster innovation, reward performance, and deepen team cohesion — all under one immersive, high-impact team retreat.
The Solution
Virgin Media sought to create an unforgettable retreat for their national sales team — one that would not only energise the group ahead of the new fiscal year but also foster innovation, collaboration, and a deeper connection between team members and leadership. The chosen setting for this experience was the stunning Peckforton Castle in Cheshire, a location that offered the perfect balance of grandeur, privacy, and inspiration for the multi-day event.
The retreat began with a high-impact Sales Kick-Off session, where senior leaders presented key strategic priorities, sales targets, and a renewed vision for the year ahead. This session was designed to be more than a traditional meeting — it was interactive, energising, and purpose-built to create alignment across the team. With the use of multimedia, real-time polling, and collaborative discussions, every attendee felt part of the conversation and part of the journey.
To celebrate the team’s efforts and achievements, the first evening featured a spectacular gala dinner hosted within the castle’s historic halls. The evening began with a refined drinks reception, followed by a seated dinner that combined elegance with warm hospitality. Entertainment played a central role in the experience, with roaming performers, live drinks tables, and themed casino tables bringing a sense of excitement and novelty to the evening. Photo booths provided light-hearted moments and lasting keepsakes, while the entire evening encouraged cross-team networking in a relaxed, celebratory atmosphere.
The second day introduced a more immersive and business-focused experience — a bespoke Dragon’s Den challenge. Participants were split into teams and tasked with developing innovative sales or service propositions aligned with Virgin Media’s commercial goals. These ideas were pitched to a panel of internal ‘Dragons’, comprised of senior leadership including COOs, CMOs, and heads of department. The pitches were judged on creativity, feasibility, and strategic fit, with several ideas gaining interest for real-world implementation. This exercise not only showcased the talent within the sales team but also gave individuals a direct line into shaping the future direction of the business.
Throughout the retreat, the balance of celebration, strategic alignment, and team-building was carefully managed. The impact was immediately visible — stronger team morale, a renewed sense of purpose, and genuine enthusiasm for the year ahead. Feedback from attendees and leadership alike highlighted the retreat as one of the most effective and memorable internal events Virgin Media had delivered, with several elements already being replicated in other parts of the business. Peckforton Castle provided a uniquely atmospheric setting that elevated every moment of the experience, making it not just a retreat, but a transformative milestone for the sales organisation.
