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Who We Are The VanHaven Brand

Mission, vision and values. The people and principles behind every build in Dorset.

Mission

Luxury, lived loud

To redefine the luxury van for people who actually live in theirs, and to fulfil the need gap for our customers.

Van Haven exists to build the most desirable VW conversions in the UK, for a new kind of clientele. Not the polished and posh. The bold ones. The grafters. The makers, founders, riders and roamers who have earned their freedom, and want a machine worthy of it.

We fuse uncompromising British craftsmanship with intelligent design, real sustainability, and finishes you will not find anywhere else. Without the gatekeeping, the jargon, or the pretence that so often comes with the word luxury.

Built for the workweek. Built for the weekend. Built for the life in between.

Hand-built in Britain. Tailored to you. Always. More than vans. A way of living.

Van Haven lifestyle and craft

To become the UK's most desirable name in premium VW conversions, and the global benchmark for what a freedom vehicle can truly be.

The VanHaven Vision

Where we are going

Setting the national standard. Then raising the bar.

Van Haven is on a path to redefine the luxury van experience, and to shape a lifestyle around it. Sophisticated without being stiff. Adventurous without being reckless. Sustainable without compromise. Built for people who refuse to choose between success and freedom.

We set the UK standard for high-performance, hand-built vans where style, craftsmanship and innovation come together. Every build pushes what is possible. Every detail earns its place. Every touchpoint, from first conversation to long after handover, is personal and built on trust.

Our clients are ambitious individuals, adventure-driven families, and professionals who have grafted for their freedom. They demand individuality and excellence. They want success measured in stories, not status.

We build to enable the shift between work, adventure, and the moments in between. The Monday boardroom and the Friday backroad. The client call and the campfire. This is the road less scripted. And we are building the vehicles to travel it.

Unlike off-the-shelf conversions or generic luxury vans, we deliver high-performance freedom vehicles, and a lifestyle that transcends the ordinary.

Our Values

Five principles from the Van Haven brand strategy. How we build, how we talk, and who we build for.

01

Craftsmanship & Exclusivity

Built by hand. Built like nothing else. Exceptional British craftsmanship is the bedrock of everything we do. Every Van Haven is a one-of-a-kind asset signed off against a personal spec.

02

Luxury & Innovation

Sophistication that actually goes somewhere. Executive-level comfort with cutting-edge engineering, premium materials, considered finishes, and smart integrated technology. Every brief starts with the client's life, not the spec sheet.

03

Freedom & Adventure

The ultimate luxury is not leather. It is freedom. Our vans remove the friction between routine and escape. Every design decision asks one question: does this make it easier to go further, more often, with less hassle?

04

Professionalism & Trust

Earned in the detail. Proven over the long road. Trust is built from first consultation to after-sales support. We say what we will do, and we do what we said. Updates are proactive. Timelines are honest.

05

Sustainability & Responsibility

Built for the long road. Built to belong on it. Energy-efficient systems, responsibly sourced materials, and longevity designed in from day one. We choose suppliers and materials with intent, not convenience.

The Road to Excellence

From one Dorset workshop to builds shipped nationwide. Ten years of custom Transporters.

Where It Started

VanHaven began in a small Dorset workshop with one goal: build Transporters that drove and finished like proper cars, not panel vans with bolt-ons. Two people, one prototype, and a year spent getting the structure right before we took on customer builds.

  • 1Garage
  • 365Days of R&D
  • 0Compromises
An early VanHaven conversion outside the original Dorset workshop

The Minds Behind the Craft

The team that designs, builds and delivers your van, all in-house at Dorset HQ.

James Ottewill, Founder

James Ottewill

Founder

James Ottewill

Founder

Paul Kilbride

Managing Director

Paul Kilbride

Managing Director

Alec Knott, Head Of Commercial

Alec Knott

Head Of Commercial

Alec Knott

Head Of Commercial

Tom Hocking

Head Of Operations

Tom Hocking

Head Of Operations

Katie Howard

Head Of Finance

Katie Howard

Head Of Finance

Bosworth Acres-Debenham, Head of Marketing

Bosworth Acres-Debenham

Head of Marketing

Bosworth Acres-Debenham

Head of Marketing

Michael Randall, Sales Manager

Michael Randall

Sales Manager

Michael Randall

Sales Manager

Tom Burns, Senior Design Consultant

Tom Burns

Senior Design Consultant

Tom Burns

Senior Design Consultant

Jonny Wareham

Senior Design Consultant

Jonny Wareham

Senior Design Consultant

Simon Gray, Bespoke Design and Innovation Specialist

Simon Gray

Bespoke Design and Innovation Specialist

Simon Gray

Bespoke Design and Innovation Specialist

Cameron Boyne

Design Consultant

Cameron Boyne

Design Consultant

Jordan Candy

Design Consultant

Jordan Candy

Design Consultant

Will Bowkett

Design Consultant

Will Bowkett

Design Consultant

Alex Kilbride

Design Consultant

Alex Kilbride

Design Consultant

Lindsey Hewitt, Sales & Operations Admin

Lindsey Hewitt

Sales & Operations Admin

Lindsey Hewitt

Sales & Operations Admin

Lillie Treasure

Sales Operations Assistant

Lillie Treasure

Sales Operations Assistant

Holly Adams

Showroom Host

Holly Adams

Showroom Host

Sharron Cooper

Accounts

Sharron Cooper

Accounts

Ready to Start Your Build?

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