FIVE DAYS IN STEVE’S HOPE VALLEY WORKSHOP
Learn to convert a campervan in five practical days
There is a big difference between watching a conversion and working through one. At Peak Campervan Training, you spend a Monday-to-Friday week in Steve Enright’s Hope Valley workshop, following a van through the stages of a conversion with a small group. Steve supplies the training van, so you can learn before committing to your own build.
The course costs £1,500 per person, with lunch included. Groups are usually around four or five people. See the current dates and ask Steve about a place; he will confirm availability and booking details directly.
What you will work through
The week follows a conversion blueprint rather than a collection of disconnected demonstrations. You begin with the van and the plan, then see how each decision affects the work that follows. The practical programme on the current course page includes preparation, a pop-top roof stage, insulation, lining, flooring, the kitchen and a rock-and-roll bed. There is time at the end to review the whole process and discuss how to apply it to your own project.
The course includes hands-on work with electrics, plumbing and gas, with Steve guiding the group throughout. A local gas engineer will inspect and sign off the gas installation on the training van the group converts. These systems are part of the conversion rather than an afterthought. You can see how their position, use and access affect the roof, lining, furniture and kitchen. Tell Steve if one of the three is especially important to your own project so he can explain the activities planned for your chosen week.
Monday: understand the van and the sequence
Meet Steve and the other learners, look over the training van and work through the conversion plan. Before any fitting starts, it helps to see where the bed, kitchen, storage and services will go. A good sequence saves you from finishing a wall only to discover that something needed to be routed behind it.
Tuesday: make room up top
The pop-top roof stage shows why careful measuring, preparation and an understanding of the vehicle structure matter. You work through this part with Steve’s guidance and see how a major change to the van fits into the rest of the conversion.
Wednesday: build the interior foundation
Insulation, lining and flooring make the empty vehicle feel like the start of a living space. This is also the point where earlier layout and systems decisions begin to matter. Learning the order of work is as useful as learning each individual task.
Thursday: fit out the living space
Bring together the kitchen, furniture and rock-and-roll bed. Think about how the space will work when you are cooking, sleeping, storing kit or simply getting in and out after a wet walk. A campervan has to work in everyday use, not only look good in a finished photograph.
Friday: finish, review and plan your next build
Work through finishing details, revisit the decisions made during the week and ask the questions you could not have known to ask on Monday. You leave with a clearer picture of the full process and where you may want further specialist support for your own van.
The exact tasks can vary with the training van and the group. Ask Steve to confirm the current week’s practical work before you book, especially if you are interested in a particular system or technique. Hands-on learning during the course does not replace any professional installation, testing or certification needed for your own vehicle.
Who is the course for?
You do not need to bring a van. The course suits people who want to understand the whole conversion before starting their own project, and those who have begun planning but want guided workshop experience. Tell Steve about your experience, the vehicle you own or hope to buy, and the parts of the build you find most daunting. He can help you decide whether the week matches what you need.
It is a hands-on course, so expect to take part with the group rather than sit through five days of classroom slides. It is also an opportunity to test your assumptions: how much room a bed really takes, what can sit behind a cupboard, and how long apparently small jobs take when they are done properly.
If you are still choosing a base vehicle, read our guide to planning a campervan conversion before you buy parts. If electrics, water or gas are high on your list, our systems planning guide will help you frame useful questions for Steve.
Learn from someone who has built and taught
Steve began a coachbuilding apprenticeship in 1980. His work has included vehicle body construction, luxury minibus and ambulance conversions, more than 100 campervan conversions and 15 years teaching at a local college. He has City & Guilds qualifications and a degree in teaching and learning. He started Peak Campervan Training in 2017 to bring that experience into a practical workshop course.
Those details matter because a conversion has many connected decisions. Roof, interior, furniture and services need to work as one vehicle. Steve can explain the reason behind an order of work, help you recognise when a choice has consequences elsewhere, and answer questions in the context of the project you want to build.
Where, when and what it costs
The workshop is at Unit 1A-B, Aston Industrial Estate, Parsons Lane, Hope Valley, Derbyshire S33 6RB. Course days run Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 5:00pm. The price is £1,500 per person, including lunch. Accommodation is separate. The homepage lists nearby places to stay and the current course dates.
Students travel from across the UK and beyond, so you do not need to live in Derbyshire. If you plan to stay locally, check your accommodation directly before booking. Tell Steve about any dietary requirements when you enquire.
After the course
Your own build is where the questions become more specific. The course gives you a complete view of the conversion process and a chance to practise in the workshop. Steve also offers ongoing support: course attendees can arrange to return to the premises to fit their first roof, use tools and get a helping hand. Discuss the arrangements for your project with him directly.
Ready to find out whether the week suits you? Check the upcoming dates and tell Steve what you want to build, whether you already own a van and which parts of the conversion you most want to understand.