What Cleveland Containers does

Cleveland Containers is a UK-based shipping container supplier founded in 2011 and headquartered in Stockton-on-Tees, operating as part of the wider Cleveland Group alongside Cleveland Hire and Cleveland Modular. The company supplies new and used standard containers in sizes from 6ft to 45ft, specialised variants (refrigerated -35°C to +30°C, flat pack, chemical storage, offshore, multistore, topper units), and bespoke conversions into offices, workshops, catering units, shops, training units and switchgear under the Cleveland XTRAS modification brand. Operations run from 20+ nationwide depot locations with crane-fitted HIAB delivery, supplying more than 16,000 units per year to over 4,500 customers and delivering hundreds of containers weekly across the country.

The business operates four revenue streams: one-time container sales (e.g., £2,500 for a 10ft new unit up to £5,995+ for a 20ft high cube side opening unit), recurring container rental and hire, bespoke conversion professional services, and the BOX+ subscription-style support programme that bundles site planning, management software (Stora), finance (Product Partnerships Limited) and marketing (YBA PPC) into a turnkey offering for self-storage operators. The go-to-market is dual-track: enterprise field sales targeting construction and infrastructure majors (Balfour Beatty, BAM, Network Rail, National Grid, Persimmon, EKFB, Kier, Taylor Woodrow, Strabag, Openreach) alongside direct-to-consumer website, phone (0330 005 5666) and quote-basket channels for SMEs, landowners and individuals. Revenues tripled from £18m (2019) to £60m (2022) ahead of a June 2022 minority investment from LDC, the private equity arm of Lloyds Banking Group, which funded new executive appointments and North East expansion. The company holds ISO 9001/14001/45001, Constructionline Gold, Achilles Building Confidence, RoSPA Gold and Investors in People credentials, is a platinum sponsor of SSA UK, and won the SSA UK Collaboration Award in 2025 for BOX+.

Name

Cleveland Containers

Legal name

CLEVELAND GROUP (HIRE AND SALES) LIMITED

Website

https://clevelandcontainers.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Cleveland Containers is a UK-based shipping container supplier founded in 2011, operating 20+ nationwide depots with new and used containers, bespoke conversions, refrigerated units, and the BOX+ self-storage operator support programme serving 4,500+ customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Grangetown

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Container Sales: Sale of new and used shipping containers in various sizes (6ft to 45ft) and configurations. Containers available as standard, high cube, side opening, tunnel, open top, and specialised variants. One-time purchase revenue model with prices ranging from approximately £2,500 for 10ft new units to £5,995+ for 20ft high cube side opening units.
2. Container Rental and Hire: Rental of shipping containers for short-term and long-term use. Supports both commercial and personal use cases. Market position described as a 'market leader in container rental and sales' per LDC investment announcement.
3. Bespoke Conversions and Modifications: Custom conversion services transforming standard containers into offices, workshops, shops, catering units, training units, switchgear containers, and other bespoke builds. Includes Cleveland XTRAS upgrades such as electrics, insulation, racking, painting, and personnel doors.
4. BOX+ Self Storage Business Support: Comprehensive start-to-finish support package for self storage operators including site planning, management software access, finance support, and marketing guidance. Connects operators with industry-specific suppliers for finance, security, marketing, and exclusive discounted container prices.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

Cleveland Containers supplies new and used shipping containers (sizes from 6ft to 45ft) for sale and hire, alongside refrigerated, flat-pack, multistore, topper, and chemical storage variants. It converts containers into bespoke offices, workshops, shops, catering units, training units, switchgear containers, and modular buildings via in-house Cleveland XTRAS customisations. The company also offers the BOX+ turnkey support package for self-storage operators, integrating site planning, management software, finance, and marketing services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• BOX+: A complete start-to-finish support package designed to help customers plan, launch and grow a profitable self storage site with confidence, including site layout planning, website and business management software, flexible finance support, and lead generation.
• Cleveland XTRAS

Products and services

• New and Used Shipping Containers (6ft to 45ft) New (one-trip) and used steel shipping containers in sizes from 6ft to 45ft and multiple configurations (standard, high cube, side opening, tunnel, open top) for secure storage, transport, and conversion. Used by construction, infrastructure, retail, logistics, agricultural, and self storage customers across the UK.
• Refrigerated Containers (Reefer Units) Temperature-controlled refrigerated shipping containers available in 10ft, 20ft, and 40ft high-cube sizes with temperature range from -35°C to +30°C. Used by food, pharmaceutical, and event-sector customers requiring cold-chain or temperature-stable storage.
• Flat Pack Containers Flat-pack man-portable steel containers delivered as a kit requiring no crane for installation, ideal for sites with restricted access. Variants include Flat Pack Storage, Insulated Storage, Chemical Storage, Insulated Chemical Storage, Insulated Kiosk, and Modular Office.
• Site Accommodation and Welfare Units Portable site offices, canteens, changing rooms, toilet blocks, toilet and shower blocks, and smoking shelters in 20ft and 32ft sizes, available for sale. Designed for construction and infrastructure sites as welfare facilities and accommodation.
• Modular Buildings Container-based modular buildings constructed using shipping container architecture, suitable for permanent or semi-permanent space needs such as offices, classrooms, and modular facilities.
• Bespoke Container Conversions (Workshops, Shops, Catering, Training, Switchgear) Custom-built container conversions delivered in-house, including upgraded shipping containers, workshops, container catering units, container shops, training unit containers, switchgear containers, lifting equipment configurations, and fully custom builds. Built by the in-house Conversions team with Cleveland XTRAS modifications prior to delivery.
• BOX+ Self Storage Operator Programme End-to-end support programme for self storage operators and landowners, covering site layout and planning, business management software (Stora), flexible finance support, PPC marketing (YBA PPC), and exclusive discounted container pricing. Delivered as a bundled service connecting self storage operators with industry partners.
• Multistore Containers Single containers partitioned into four secure, self-contained units, increasing customer density at storage sites without expanding ground footprint. Targeted at self storage operators needing more units in a limited footprint.
• Topper Unit Containers Modified 20ft shipping containers designed to stack on top of existing containers, increasing site storage capacity without consuming additional ground space, ideal for space-constrained self storage or commercial sites.
• Cleveland XTRAS Customisation Package Branded customisation package offering in-house container upgrades including ply lining and insulation, personnel doors, windows, electrics and lighting, racking, Grafo-Therm coating, and painting. All modifications are installed in-house at Cleveland Containers before delivery.
• Chemical Storage Containers (COSHH) Specialised shipping containers for COSHH-compliant storage of hazardous substances and chemicals, available in standard and flat-pack insulated variants for sites with restricted access.
• Container Hire and Rental Service Subscription-based rental and hire service providing shipping containers for short-term and long-term use across commercial and personal customers, supported by nationwide HIAB delivery from 20+ depots.

Quantifiable outcome

• Revenue growth: Tripled from £18m (2019) to £60m (2022)
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers20 records

Segments9 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• StoracoreTechnology or IntegrationStora is a leading self storage software platform integrated into the BOX+ service. It provides tools for online bookings, payments, and customer management with automation features. Store Mill Self Storage was introduced to Stora through BOX+ and uses it to streamline operations.
• YBA PPCcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerYBA PPC are Google PPC (Pay-Per-Click) management specialists integrated into the BOX+ network. They create and monitor Google Ads for self storage operators such as Store Mill, helping reach and expand target audiences.
• Ledgard JepsonminorOthersLedgard Jepson is credited as the web design and development agency for Cleveland Containers' website.
• Johnathan BulmercoreOthersJohnathan Bulmer is the founder of Cleveland Containers. Connected with Ian Harriman to introduce the concept of self storage, leading to the iBOXED Self Storage venture. Sits alongside his wife Jane Bulmer in company leadership.
• Cleveland GroupcoreOthersCleveland Containers is part of the wider Cleveland Group, operating alongside Cleveland Hire and Cleveland Modular. The Group includes Cleveland Group (Hire and Sales) Limited (company number 07520210). Being part of the Group provides cross-divisional career pathways and shared infrastructure.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• S Jones Containers: One of the UK's largest shipping container suppliers for sale and hire, directly competing with Cleveland Containers across standard, specialised, and bespoke container products to construction, self-storage, and commercial customers.
• Containers Direct: UK-based shipping container retailer offering new and used containers for sale and hire, competing head-to-head with Cleveland on price, range, and delivery in the same customer segments.
• BISON Containers: UK shipping container supplier providing new, used and converted containers with nationwide delivery, directly overlapping Cleveland's product catalogue and customer base.
• Lion Containers: UK-based supplier of new and used shipping containers and bespoke conversions, serving similar construction, self-storage, and commercial customers as Cleveland Containers.
• Maritime Containers Ltd: UK supplier of new and used shipping containers and conversions, operating in the same sale-and-hire market as Cleveland, often competing on price and availability for standard 20ft/40ft units.

Broad incumbents

• Algeco: European leader in modular space and site accommodation solutions, competing with Cleveland's site accommodation and bespoke conversion lines from a much larger, established position.
• Portakabin: Established UK modular building provider offering site offices, welfare units, and portable buildings — overlapping with Cleveland's site accommodation and bespoke office offerings, but as part of a broader modular portfolio.
• Wernick Group: UK provider of modular and portable buildings, including site accommodation and bespoke builds, providing indirect competition to Cleveland's welfare and conversion products.

Others

• Big Yellow Self Storage: Largest UK self-storage operator; competes indirectly with Cleveland's BOX+ customers by anchoring the end-consumer self-storage market and competing for sites and operator customers.
• Safestore: Major UK and European self-storage brand; sets competitive benchmarks for pricing, site economics, and operator economics that influence the addressable opportunity for Cleveland's BOX+ pipeline.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/clevelandboxes
• Facebookfacebook.com/6098805491059
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/8019132
• Instagraminstagram.com/clevelandcontainers

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cleveland Containers