Last updated at 14:18, Tuesday, 01 May 2012

AN electrician has launched his own company offering cut-price campervan hire, after travelling across Australia and New Zealand.

G’DAY MATE: Ben Patterson, 30, set up a business called Cruzy Campers after receiving inspiration in Australia LINDSEY DICKINGS REF: 50032615B001

Ben Patterson served his time as an electrician at the shipyard in Barrow before taking voluntary redundancy and spending two years travelling across the world with his partner, Fiona.

But after coming across high campervan hire rates, Mr Patterson decided to set up his own firm in a bid to keep costs low for budget-conscious travellers like himself.

The self-employed electrician, who is also working on a short-term contract at Glaxo in Ulverston, said: “I’ve had the van for a few years, it’s always been perfect for my outdoors lifestyle... I love to go mountain biking, walking, kayaking and snow boarding. But when we went travelling, we came across companies hiring out campervans to backpackers in Australia and New Zealand, their vans were expensive and it made me think about how I could hire my own van out.”

Mr Patterson, 30, has called his business Cruzy Campers and hopes to attract customers from across the South Lakes who are looking for a weekend or week-long break.

He added: “I attended a business course at Furness Enterprise to gain the knowledge about starting and running a business.

“Then I put my ideas into action, I carried out research on legal and insurance requirements, made some improvements to the van, had my website created and ordered postcards for advertising.

“My website went live at the end of October and I got my first booking in March.”

Mr Patterson, of Cross Lane, Ulverston, also revealed his ambitions to expands. He said: “If things take off I would like to invest in more vans and be able to work on Cruzy Campers full-time.

“I believe I’m the only business that offers good quality campervan hire aimed at the budget end of the market.”

First published at 13:15, Tuesday, 01 May 2012
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk