Darlington entrepreneur sets out on new career path with new custom business

A Darlington man has left his steady corporate job behind him and started his own business customising camper vans. John Murphy has set up Tees Valley Campers and Customs in a new unit at Evolution Park in Darlington recently developed by Priority Space.

He has transformed the 1,000 sq ft space into a bespoke workshop where ordinary working vans can be converted into fully-fitted and kitted-out leisure campers. John most recently worked for nine years in a national management position at Calor Gas Ltd, but outside the office, has always loved building and converting vehicles.

Previously, he’s done this in his spare time on his own drive, but has now decided the time is right to turn his passion into his job due to a dramatic growth in the market for motorhomes. John, aged 34, said: “The interest in camper vans has gone through the roof since the Covid pandemic which made many people stop and re-evaluate their lifestyles.

“Camper vans give you the freedom to go where you choose when you choose and wake up to a new view every morning. They save money on hotels, get you closer to nature and mean you don’t have to sleep in a tent in terrible weather. More people can now work flexibly and so are taking their laptops with them on the road too.

“But new motorhomes are an expensive purchase and so the demand for good conversions of ordinary builders’ vans into leisure campers has never been higher. It feels like the perfect time to turn my passion into my business.”

John will offer a range of specialist services from the standard fitting of insulation, carpets and windows into bare vans to a full design and refit service which may include cutting out and fitting a pop-top roof, making fitted furniture and installing gas, electric and water.

Adam Richardson, director of Priority Space, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Tees Valley Campers and Customs to Evolution Park and wish John well as he embarks on his new business journey.

“The reason we build business parks in key locations like Darlington is to provide local entrepreneurs with high-quality, sustainable workspaces where they can set up and run their own businesses and contribute to growing the local economy.” John aims to recruit a member of staff to the business within 18 months.

He said: “I chose Evolution Park because the development is brand new and looks clean and professional which is the image I want for my company. I’ve been able to set up the unit exactly as I want and create a dedicated workshop where I can convert ordinary vans into camper vans.”

John has always worked on vehicles and has gained invaluable experience working at Snug Camper Vans in Malton, Yorkshire. He enjoys travelling all over the UK with his wife and three-year-old daughter in his own camper, which he converted from a standard VW Transporter van.

Evolution Business Park is a £3m development by Priority Space, built by Wharton Construction in 2022. It brings 21,559 square feet of new commercial space to the region’s property market with 14 units available for sale or rent. Several units are already secured with further enquires being handled by Richard Scott of Savills and Jonathan Simpson of Connect Property North East.

By Mark Adair – Correspondent, Bdaily

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