The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Camper conversion led to founding of business
Mark Trigg runs Vanguard Conversions, Fort William, with his wife Niki. He gives an insight into his approach to business
Q. How and why did you start in business? A. Originally from Yorkshire, on leaving school I became a time-served joiner and cabinet-maker, and worked in and around my home town.
Then, 27 years ago, I met my wife Niki and we found we shared a love of the great outdoors. So, in 2005, we moved north to Lochaber so that I could work as a carpenter on Glen Fintaig Estate, manufacturing and installing new bedroom and kitchen fittings, while we both used our leisure time to enjoy all this great area has to offer.
When the estate was sold I continued elsewhere with joinery work, while Niki worked in accounts and as a snowboard instructor. Around 12 years ago we decided to convert our van into a campervan so we could enjoy the freedom of the road, holidaying wherever we fancied, and we wrote a blog about the progress of the project. It quickly attracted a wide range of readers, all eagerly anticipating the final result, and once completed the van boasted a comfortable bed and sink, and it looked terrific. We were inundated with requests from people wanting us to do similar work for them.
We’d really enjoyed ourselves, consumer demand was high, and turning our hobby into Vanguard Campervan Conversions sounded like a great idea. It was the obvious next step and we leapt at it. Q. How did you get to where you are today? A. Through hard work, determination, and the help of Niki, who became my partner in the business.
We worked from home for the first year before moving into our first small commercial unit in Fort William. At first many of our customers were friends and family members, but as time passed that has changed and today our customers come from all over Scotland and parts of England. We’ve converted hundreds of vehicles, but everyone’s needs are different so no two conversions are the same. For example, we recently completed work on a communications vehicle for Lochaber Mountain Rescue.
We love a challenge and I’ve had to work hard to learn the skills that enable me to deliver work of the highest possible standard.
Q. Who helped you?
A. Niki and I have the same passion for the outdoors, and feel very privileged to be able to work together doing things we enjoy in a great business in this most beautiful part of the country. We have found our membership of the Federation of Small Businesses to be very useful. It’s helped with many aspects of the business.
Q. What has been your biggest mistake?
A. Not taking the plunge and becoming self-employed much sooner.
Q. What was your greatest achievement?
A. Being shortlisted for the best rural innovation accolade at the Scottish Rural Awards 2020. We were pretty chuffed with that, but the final was sadly cancelled due to Covid.
Q. If you were in power in government, what would you change?
A. I’d invest more in environmental issues, looking at how we make the most of our most important industry, tourism, while protecting the stunningly beautiful and very precious place that we are privileged to live in.
Q. What do you still hope to achieve?
A. To keep moving with the times and to enjoy doing what we do for as long as possible.
Q. What do you do to relax?
A. We enjoy heading out in our own campervan to catch up with friends and family, or go snowboarding, hiking, paddle-boarding or surfing.
Q. What do you waste your money on?
A. I love my tech and have a passion for photography – on the ground, or above it using drones. I also love outdoor adventure kit and a paraglider is on my wish list.
Q. How would your friends describe you?
A. A perfectionist, fun and happy, and an adventurer.
Q. What would your enemies say about you? A. I don’t think I have any. Life’s complicated enough without them.
Q. What do you drive and dream of driving?
A. I drive a VW Crafter 4x4 bespoke campervan, which I created as a labour of love during the first lockdown. Campervans meet all our needs and they’re the only vehicles for us, aside from a paraglider.