A SCOTTISH company specialising in luxury campervan conversions has had its most successful year to date – coinciding with the first anniversary of its move to becoming owned by its employees.
Jerba Campervans, which is based in North Berwick, has seen turnover rise from £2.2 million in 2017 to £2.7m last year – its most successful since its humble beginnings in 2005. The firm, which became fully employee-owned in January last year and specialises in luxury conversions of the Volkswagen T6 model, has also seen productivity increase by 12%.
Jerba, which has a 15-strong team, completed a record total of 55 bespoke vehicles in 2018, up from 48 in 2017.
Simon Poole, its founder and director, said: “Naturally, we’re thrilled to be looking at these results from the past year.
“We’ve been growing steadily since we first started, but to me it’s clear that the introduction of the employee-owned model last year has given the team and the business a huge boost. But beyond stats and numbers, it’s satisfying to know that with every van that leaves the workshop, we’re providing our customers a wonderful lifestyle and experience.
“At the end of the day when I’m locking up, I think about how we’re helping local people to pay their mortgages and enjoy life thanks to the business – and that’s even more satisfying.”
Poole and his wife Cath founded Jerba in 2005 after a decade of owning and hiring campervans world-wide, and deciding they could improve the design and overall user experience by themselves. Jerba is now recognised by Volkswagen as a registered vehicle body builder.
The German manufacturer supplies the firm with the skeletons of the vans, which it then transforms into stylish homes on wheels, made to the individual customer’s specification.
Last year, the husband-and-wife team transferred all shares into the Jerba Campervans Trust, the board of which ensures the company is being run for employees’ benefit.
Poole added: “Becoming employee-owned has truly energised the place and as a result, we’ve benefitted from a loyal team of people who have been instrumental in building the business.
“Hopefully with this mindset and drive, we’ll be able to report even greater success this time next year.”
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