Cleveland Group

What Cleveland Group does

Cleveland Group is a UK-based provider of shipping containers, modular buildings and site accommodation serving the construction, infrastructure and related sectors. Founded in February 2011 in Stockton-on-Tees as a family-run shipping container business, it operates today through three divisions — Cleveland Containers (new and used containers plus bespoke conversions), Cleveland Modular (temporary and permanent modular buildings) and Cleveland Hire (site accommodation and welfare facilities). Cleveland Modular is the UK's largest importer of Containex modular buildings, and the group's hire and modular fleet is fully compliant with the latest Joint Code of Practice (JCoP 10.1) for fire safety, branded as the "Cleveland Gold Standard." Modular solutions are delivered to EPC A rating and hire units to EPC B rating. The group holds UKAS-accredited ISO 9001, 14001 and 45001 certifications, SafeHire, Constructionline Gold, Achilles SSIP and three consecutive RoSPA Gold Awards, providing procurement pre-qualification for major contractors.

The group earns revenue through a combination of one-time container sales and modular building project revenues, recurring hire contracts (containers, site accommodation, welfare units), and FCA-regulated consumer credit intermediation for financed purchases via Product Partnerships Limited. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. Go-to-market is enterprise field sales with regional sales managers, supplemented by website inquiries, an owned depot network of five sites across the UK (Middlesbrough, Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Sharpness, Cambuslang, Newport), and third-party sites enabling nationwide delivery. Customers span major contractors (Balfour Beatty, BAM, Kier, Taylor Woodrow, Wates, Strabag, EKFB), infrastructure owners (Network Rail, National Grid, Openreach), housebuilders (Persimmon) and adjacent verticals (self-storage, education, leisure).

Cleveland Group is privately held following a minority investment by LDC (part of Lloyds Banking Group) in June 2022, under which it has reported 30% year-on-year revenue growth and headcount expansion from 45 to approximately 100 employees. Following the investment, the company opened four additional owned depots (2023–2025), expanded the hire fleet by 60% in 2025, appointed Andrew Thompson as CEO in February 2023 (with founder Johnathan Bulmer moving to Non-Executive Director), and in November 2025 unified the three divisions under the "Own Your Space" brand proposition.

Name

Cleveland Group

Legal name

CLEVELAND GROUP (HIRE AND SALES) LIMITED

Website

https://clevelandgroup.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Cleveland Group is a UK provider of shipping containers, site accommodation and modular buildings serving construction, infrastructure and adjacent sectors. Operating through three divisions with five owned depots nationwide, it supplies enterprise contractors and infrastructure owners with JCoP-compliant, EPC-rated space solutions under recurring hire and outright sale models.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Modular space and container solutions

NAICS

Warehousing and Storage (493), Transportation and Warehousing (48-49)

SIC

Services-Equipment Rental & Leasing, Nec (7359), Metal Shipping Barrels, Drums, Kegs & Pails (3412)

akta.pro primary industry

Portable Storage Container Specialty & High-Value Item Moves (Crating/Climate-Control Options) (HSAKAIAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Container Cleaning, Washing & Decontamination Facilities (TLALAJAH), Storage Containers & Bins Retail (Plastic, Glass, Modular) (CRAIAJAC)

Keywords

• Shipping containers
• Modular buildings
• Site accommodation
• Container conversions
• Container hire

Headquarters

HQ city

Stockton-on-tees

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Shipping Container Sales and Hire: Supplying new and used shipping containers, bespoke container conversions, and secure hire solutions to businesses across the UK
2. Modular Building Solutions: Delivering high-quality modular buildings tailored to requirements, from temporary facilities to permanent business spaces
3. Site Accommodation and Hire: Providing site accommodation, storage containers, and welfare facilities to keep projects running smoothly across the UK
4. Consumer Credit Services: As a credit intermediary regulated by FCA, the company provides finance options for purchases under Product Partnerships Limited's regulatory permissions

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Cleveland Group supplies new and used shipping containers, bespoke container conversions, secure container hire, EPC-rated modular buildings and JCoP-compliant site accommodation/welfare facilities to UK businesses. Operating through three divisions — Cleveland Containers, Cleveland Hire and Cleveland Modular — the group delivers turnkey space solutions backed by specialist expertise, end-to-end project support and nationwide delivery from five owned UK depots.

Product overview

Cleveland Group operates as a unified group of three distinct divisions serving the UK construction and infrastructure sectors. The core offering spans shipping containers and bespoke conversions (Cleveland Containers), modular buildings from temporary to permanent specifications (Cleveland Modular), and site accommodation with welfare facilities (Cleveland Hire). The divisions share infrastructure including a network of depots across the UK and are united under the 'Own Your Space' brand proposition launched in November 2025. The group serves a diverse customer portfolio ranging from SMEs to large national organisations and major infrastructure projects.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Cleveland Containers (shipping containers, bespoke conversions and secure container hire) Supply of new and used shipping containers, bespoke container conversions, and secure hire solutions to UK businesses across sectors including construction, infrastructure, self-storage, renewables, education and leisure.
• Cleveland Modular (modular buildings)

Quantifiable outcome

• 60% fleet expansion in 2025 enabling meeting growing customer demand nationwide
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers23 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ABP (Associated British Ports)coreOthers · 1 October 2025Cleveland Group signed a 10-year lease for the Newport depot with ABP who own and manage the land. ABP is the UK's leading port company and has invested £80 million in Port of Newport. The partnership enables Cleveland's expansion into South Wales.
• Jenkins BestminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProperty agents who acted as intermediaries in bringing the partnership between Cleveland and ABP together for the Newport depot.
• Missed a BeatminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to install defibrillators at all Cleveland depot sites nationwide. Missed a Beat was founded by Mark Preston in Newton Aycliffe and has expanded across the North East, placing defibrillators in key locations.
• CreditsafecoreTechnology or IntegrationCredit reference agency used by Cleveland Group for credit checks, identity verification, and fraud prevention. Creditsafe uses TransUnion data to supply consumer credit and identity data.
• TransUnioncoreTechnology or IntegrationInternational credit reference agency whose data is supplied via Creditsafe for consumer credit and identity verification purposes.
• Product Partnerships LimitedcoreOthersFCA principal firm under whose regulatory permissions Cleveland Group operates regarding consumer credit provision, for regulatory supervision, oversight, reporting and handling complaints.
• Hitachi Zosen Inova (HZI)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to deliver major national infrastructure projects. Cleveland Modular delivers EPC 'A' rated modular solutions in partnership with HZI.
• British Heart Foundation (BHF)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBHF's RevivR CPR mobile training was used to raise awareness and encourage staff to take part in cardiac arrest response training.
• Sustainable AdvantageminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for carbon offsetting - 2023 carbon credits supported Maisa REDD+ Project in Brazil (Amazon rainforest protection). 2024 credits contributed to Katingan REDD+ project in Indonesia.
• Middlesbrough CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to support T Level students with work experience requirements and sponsor future engineers through the TTE Engineering Programme.
• SME Climate HubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommitted member providing knowledge and guidance on enhancing sustainability performance and reducing environmental footprint.
• Supply Chain Sustainability SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative programme providing guidance on advancing sustainability skills, knowledge, and best practice.
• Farm Business InnovationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEvent sponsorship and keynote theatre sponsorship for FBI show at NEC Birmingham for showcasing container solutions.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Speedy Hire: UK-listed equipment and tool hire specialist with national depot network serving construction, infrastructure, and industrial markets. Directly comparable to Cleveland Hire's site accommodation and container hire offering, though Speedy operates at substantially larger scale and broader tool/plant hire range.
• Sunbelt Rentals UK: UK arm of the largest equipment rental company in North America, offering site accommodation, containers, and modular solutions. Comparable to Cleveland across hire fleet and modular, with materially larger group backing.
• A-Plant (Sunbelt): UK plant and tool hire business, now part of Sunbelt Rentals, offering site accommodation and welfare units. Comparable to Cleveland Hire across the construction hire customer base, with broader plant hire portfolio.

Direct peers

• HSS Hire: UK tool and equipment hire provider serving enterprise construction and infrastructure customers with nationwide coverage. Direct peer to Cleveland Hire across site accommodation, welfare, and storage hire; notably, HSS is also referenced as a Cleveland customer.
• Portakabin: UK manufacturer and hirer of modular buildings for permanent and temporary applications including education, healthcare, and construction. Directly comparable to Cleveland Modular on permanent and temporary modular solutions.
• Mobile Mini UK: UK provider of portable storage containers and modular office solutions for construction, retail, and industrial markets. Direct peer to Cleveland Containers and Cleveland Hire on container hire and conversions.
• Algeco UK: European leader in modular space and portable accommodation, including site cabins and modular buildings. Closest direct peer to Cleveland Modular in the modular buildings and site accommodation segment.
• Wernick Group: UK family-owned modular building manufacturer and hirer serving construction, education, and commercial sectors. Comparable to Cleveland Modular on permanent and hire modular offerings.
• Elliot Hire: UK plant, tool, and accommodation hire specialist serving construction and infrastructure customers. Comparable to Cleveland on site accommodation and storage hire in overlapping regional markets.

Emerging players

• Container Conversions: UK specialist in bespoke shipping container conversions for site offices, welfare units, and bespoke commercial applications. Direct emerging peer to Cleveland's bespoke container conversion work in Cleveland Containers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/CleveContainers
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@clevelandcontainers
• Facebookfacebook.com/ClevelandContainers
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/clevelandgroup
• Instagraminstagram.com/clevelandcontainers

Compliance14 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Group