London, 24 November 2025 — eBay has unveiled the shortlist for its highly anticipated Van Conversion of the Year Awards 2025, celebrating the UK’s most exceptional commercial vehicle builds. From imaginative micro-campers to fully equipped off-grid homes on wheels and even a mobile hair salon, this year’s finalists showcase the growing creativity, craftsmanship, and community behind the nation’s booming van-conversion culture.
Now in its latest edition, the awards honour standout Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV) conversions across six categories: Tiny Haven, Clever Camper, Most Creative, Globetrotter, Built for Business and Special Recognition. Each reflects a different expression of ingenuity — from small-space mastery to long-distance liveability and innovative business applications.
Led by TV presenter and architect George Clarke, the judging panel also includes Abir Tewari, UK Director of Commercial Operations for eBay parts and accessories; Mark Cropley, founder of Whitebox Vans and Wildbox Adventure Vehicles; and van-life creator Josie Rose, last year’s Most Creative category winner. Together, they reviewed entries from across the country to determine this year’s six category winners — one of whom will go on to claim the £10,000 grand prize and the overall Van Conversion of the Year title. All shortlisted entrants have also earned £250 in eBay parts and accessories vouchers.
Clarke said the range and originality of this year’s conversions made judging particularly challenging. “We’ve seen everything from ingeniously adapted mobile-business vans to weekend adventure campers and fully equipped homes-on-wheels for full-time van lifers,” he said. “The creativity and craftsmanship on display is incredibly inspiring.”
Tewari added: “At eBay, we love to champion those who build and create the vehicles of their dreams using eBay parts and accessories. Some of the entrants have really blown me away with what they can create, and it’s brilliant to see eBay being put to good use by so many that have embraced the DIY spirit.”
The 2025 Shortlist
Tiny Haven Award: Isobel Mockett — Citroën Berlingo
Isobel Mockett’s wheelchair-adapted Citroën Berlingo has been transformed into a compact, personality-filled micro-camper designed for European adventures. A lowered floor and ramp provided the perfect opportunity to create hidden underfloor storage for tools, supplies and travel essentials, while the interior features a cosy double bed, tiled surfaces, spice racks, USB ports and a pull-out stove.
Fully insulated and thoughtfully finished, the van has already covered 3,500 miles across eight European countries. Mockett says the project — designed with her father over “a pint at the pub” — has been life-changing. “We created a beautiful, budget-friendly little van that fuels all my weekend adventures. Converting it brought us closer.”
Clever Camper Award: Charlie Ding & Rosie Wells — Mercedes Sprinter
Built over 1,500 hours by Charlie, Rosie and their dog (also named Rosie), this Mercedes Sprinter conversion blends smart engineering with practical comfort for full-time European travel. Standout features include a bed that electrically lifts into the roof, revealing a lounge area beneath, and a wardrobe that slides into the shower space when not in use.
Heating, plumbing, a double gas hob, 12V fridge and exterior trims were sourced on eBay, helping the couple create a stylish, fully off-grid home fit for long-term touring.
Most Creative Award: Jessica Kleczka — Vauxhall Movano (“Frodo”)
Content creator Jessica Kleczka’s “Frodo” is a whimsical woodland cottage on wheels. Built with reclaimed pallets and vintage furniture — and supported by eBay-sourced components including the water tank and cooker — the Vauxhall Movano is designed for low-cost, long-distance travel.
Features include indoor and outdoor kitchens, a composting toilet and an electrical system capable of keeping her fully off-grid for up to a week. “Frodo is a testament to what can be achieved with limited resources, little experience, and a lot of creativity,” Kleczka said.
Globetrotter Award: Zarinah Meade & Jake Jordan — Mercedes Sprinter
Designed for long-term, long-distance travel, Zarinah and Jake’s rugged yet welcoming Mercedes Sprinter features chunky all-terrain tyres, traction boards, a roof deck, solar panels and even boat steps — all sourced on eBay.
Inside, earthy tones and stone-tiled bathroom surfaces create a calming, visually spacious retreat. “We gave up our jobs, our flat and our general lives to travel the world in our van,” the couple said. “We wouldn’t change a thing.”
Built for Business Award: Alex Kamintzis — Mercedes Sprinter (“Evolution Studio”)
A fully functional mobile hair salon, Alex Kamintzis’s Mercedes Sprinter conversion brings professional styling directly to customers across Hertfordshire. The van houses two stations with full salon décor, mirrors and storage, all running independently from onboard water tanks and leisure batteries.
Key business-critical items — including barber’s chairs, batteries and the generator — were sourced on eBay, helping build what Kamintzis believes was the UK’s first mobile hair salon. “It’s been immensely rewarding,” he said. “The van has even allowed me to begin training my son to take over the business.”
Special Recognition Award: Niall Seymour — Scania Fire Engine (“Fire Truck Food”)
A previous category winner in 2024, Niall Seymour returns with the only fire-engine-turned-food-truck of its kind. His converted Scania fire engine houses a fully built commercial kitchen — from fridges and gas connections to lighting and flooring, much of it sourced on eBay.
Operating as Fire Truck Food, the unique mobile kitchen has quickly become a crowd-pleasing attraction at events nationwide. Seymour called the project “the best thing I have ever built.”
The overall eBay Van Conversion of the Year 2025 winner — and the recipient of the £10,000 cash prize — will be announced in December, capping off a year that has once again highlighted the UK’s remarkable talent for DIY innovation, craftsmanship and reinvention on wheels.
