Malcolm Gordon was still in his teens when he swapped the classroom for the workshop floor.
At just 15, he joined his parents’ fledgling business, Turriff Caravan Centre – a family venture run from the grounds of his grandparents’ 200-year-old stone lodge.
40 years later, that same business has evolved into TCC Services, one of the north-east’s most trusted names in leisure vehicle conversions, servicing and repairs.
But behind the slick workshop and specialist kit, it’s still fuelled by the same hands-on attitude and homegrown values.
What began as a small-scale caravan dealership, started by Irene and Donald Gordon in the early 1980s, has grown into a six-figure operation, serving customers from across Scotland and beyond.
Today, Malcolm runs the show, alongside his wife Jill, overseeing a wide variety of projects – from bespoke campervan and truck fit-outs to mobile workshops destined for the Middle East.
TCC Services changing with the times
“We’ve had to adapt,” Malcolm says. “The leisure market has changed massively over the years.
“We moved from selling caravans to focusing on servicing and conversion – fitting out vehicles to suit how people want to travel, work and live.”
TCC now handles everything from pop-top roofs and air suspension upgrades to full vehicle conversions tailored to both recreational and commercial use.
One recent job involved converting a 7.5-tonne truck into a racing support vehicle for a couple in their 50s who compete in sidecar racing.
Another saw the team insulate steel containers to be used as mobile workshops in the intense 40°C-plus heat of Iraq.
“We take on the oddball jobs that others turn away,” Malcolm says. “The leisure industry is seasonal, so variety keeps us going.”
But it’s not just the day job that keeps Malcolm’s motor running. Away from the workshop, he’s part of the KD TCC Racing Team, sponsoring and working as a mechanic for friend and Scottish motorcycle ace Kris Duncan.
Precision on the track
It’s a passion project that has taken him across the globe, including the CIV championship in Italy in 2023 and the Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix in China last year.
True to form, Malcolm often travels to races in a van he’s converted himself – complete with beds, showers, storage and a mobile workshop for the bikes.
Those trips, he says, aren’t just a getaway – they keep his problem-solving sharp and his workshop team inspired.
“I bring back new ideas, and I try to give the team here the same sort of challenges – within reason,” he says.
As TCC marks 40 years in business, Malcolm is clear that staying adaptable is what’s kept them going – especially in a more rural location like Turriff.
TCC also offers secure storage, with facilities for caravans, motorhomes, boats, trailers and cars.
For Malcolm, it’s all about diversifying to stay relevant to customers.
“I’ve seen the ups and downs over the years because I have been here since day one,” he said.
“We’ve had brilliant times and we’ve had some really tough ones. But we’ve always kept going by being willing to diversify.
“Some of our work now falls outside the leisure industry – and that’s what keeps us afloat when things go quiet.
“I’ve seen so many businesses put all their eggs in one basket. This is why I am always looking at new things to give us an extra bit of work – and that opens opportunities for businesses coming to us.”
Conversation