Douglas Alexander MP has visited Jerba Campervans to hear about its campervan conversions business and the benefits of being 100 per cent employee owned.

Mr Alexander met with Simon Poole, who co-founded the business in 2006 and is now its Director, at their office and workshop at Halfland Barns near North Berwick. They took a tour of the workshop and discussed the company’s recent progress, as well as how it has benefited from being employee owned.

The company is one of only a handful of fully approved Motorhome Qualified converters for Volkswagen in the UK and is currently in the final stages of also becoming fully approved by Ford UK to their National Converter Programme.

Jerba became a 100 per cent employee-owned company in January 2018, with every employee being a beneficiary of the business, including the annual sharing of company profits. The business is also both a Real Living Wage and Real Living Hours Accredited employer.

Speaking after the visit, Douglas Alexander MP said:

“I had heard many positive things about Jerba Campervans and was delighted to have the opportunity to visit and chat to Simon about the origins and progress of the business as well as his passionate advocacy for the employee-ownership model.

“His story of taking the business from a personal enthusiasm to a highly successful and respected business and employer is an inspirational one. I was greatly impressed by the journey they have undergone since 2006 and by the decision to go down the route of employee ownership.

“It’s very clear that this has proved to be hugely beneficial for the business, with staff being fully involved in decisions about the way it operates and sharing in its success. Jerba is a great example of how employee ownership can help to enhance both a company’s commercial success and being an excellent employer and place to work.”

Simon Poole, Director of Jerba Campervans, said:

“It was excellent to have the opportunity to meet with Douglas and show him around our growing business. He clearly understands the positive impact that employee ownership is having on the people who work at Jerba Campervans, on our customers, on our local community and on the success of the business as a whole. As our local MP we look forward to working with him in the months and years to come.”