Bleaklow Farm has been the setting for Cox Automotive International’s quarterly three-night off-site strategy meetings since 2023.

Part of the global Cox Enterprises group, Cox Automotive is based in Leeds and is a global leader in automotive services and technology. Their portfolio includes brands such as Manheim and Codeweavers.

With teams distributed across the UK and continental Europe, senior leadership collaboration is critical to aligning strategy, sharing insight and driving performance. This makes dedicated time away from day-to-day operations essential and drives the need for structured and focused meetings away from their normal office.

We spoke to the lovely Ann Fairbanks, Executive Assistant to the President, and organiser of the quarterly meetings, to understand how Bleaklow Farm supports productive, high-impact leadership time for Cox Automotive.

Q: What prompted the move away from traditional meeting spaces?

We already had monthly meetings, but they were always in an office so naturally became very quick and very functional. What we needed was time and space to think properly about strategy and to step away from the day-to-day noise.

We didn’t want a hotel environment because you run the risk of siting in the same room all day, and it never quite feels relaxed. We knew that that wasn’t going to give us what we needed as a leadership team.

Q: Why did you choose Bleaklow Farm?

Location was a big factor in our decision. Our head office is in Leeds, but the team is spread across the UK, so Bleaklow Farm works well geographically and the setting is so impressive and completely removed from the corporate environment. You arrive, and it’s quiet, it’s open, it’s beautiful. That shift in environment changes how people think and interact straight away.

Q: How does the property support your meetings?

For us, it’s the combination of structure and flexibility. Everyone has their own en-suite bedroom, which is really important as not only does it ensure privacy, it also gives us space to switch off and reenergise between sessions.

Then you have the shared areas. The kitchen is central to everything. We find that we all gather around the island, and the space – although huge – naturally brings people together.

We also use different parts of the house depending on the session. We started in the barn, which is a great meeting space, but we found the kitchen table works just as well. We’ll also use the lounge, the gym, even the pool room. It keeps things fluid and varied.

Q: Your catering approach is quite different to a typical corporate event. Why?

We do everything ourselves, and that’s intentional. I organise a big food delivery ahead of our stay and we cater for ourselves.

People do their own thing for breakfast, but lunch and dinner are team efforts. We organise a rota, so people take on roles from either chef to sous chef, setting the table and then, of course, clearing up.

Those informal moments become just as valuable as the formal sessions. People are talking, sometimes about personal things, sometimes about business, and it breaks down barriers in a way a catered environment just doesn’t.

Q: How does the setting influence team dynamics?

It changes everything. It’s relaxed, but it’s still productive. For example, people bring their slippers… Which I think tells you everything you need to know about the atmosphere!

We also love the outdoors. Having those incredible walks on the doorstep is amazing, and again, helps encourage conversations away from the board room. Sometimes those conversations are work-focused, sometimes they’re not, but both matter.

Then after the sessions, people can either sit to watch football, play pool, or others sit in the lounge with a drink. In a hotel, it’s usually just the bar or your room. At Bleaklow Farm it’s all your space.

Q: What impact does this have on productivity?

The difference is the depth of conversation. There’s no pressure to stop our meetings because a room booking ends or because dinner is at a fixed time. We cook when we want, eat when we want, and conversations continue naturally. That freedom means ideas are explored properly and people have thinking time – which you just don’t get in a one-day meeting.

Q: Has Bleaklow Farm become a regular part of your strategy planning?

Yes, completely. The quarterly meetings are now a highlight for the team and they truly look forward to them. That’s not just because of the setting, but also because they know they’ll get real value from the time together.

Q: What makes Bleaklow Farm stand out from other venues?

It’s rare to find somewhere that balances comfort, quality and practicality like Bleaklow Farm does. The whole experience starts before you even arrive – the drive and the scenery all helps people decompress and they arrive in the right mindset, ready to focus.

The accommodation is all finished to a consistently high standard, which means there’s no hierarchy in who gets what room… But above all else, it’s a homely environment that supports business outcomes. That’s a combination that truly works.

Make your next off-site meeting count. Choose Bleaklow Farm.

If your leadership team needs more than a boardroom and a fixed agenda, Bleaklow Farm offers a setting that couldn’t be more different from the constraints of hotels and corporate spaces. Give your team the environment, privacy and flexibility to focus on what matters – strategy, collaboration and progress.

To find out more about hosting your corporate meeting at Bleaklow Farm, get in touch with the team here or call 07810155366.