Bunkabin

What Bunkabin does

Bunkabin is a UK-based manufacturer and hirer of portable accommodation and welfare units, founded in 1979 and operating from a purpose-built factory and headquarters in Oldham (Tweedale Way, OL9 7LD) with a second depot in Dunstable. The company manufactures and rents sleeper units, shower blocks, toilet blocks, and diner units on a hire basis, claiming the UK's largest portable site sleeper fleet at 2,800+ units. It serves a diverse mix of end markets including construction, events and festivals, education, agriculture, defence, healthcare, and renewable energy, with marquee reference customers including the Royal Navy (Rosyth Dockyard), Glastonbury Festival, the BBC, ITV, NHS, EDF Energy (Hinkley Point C), and Reaseheath College.

The core product portfolio comprises Junior Deluxe and Bespoke sleeper units in single, twin, and lounge configurations; standard and deluxe shower and toilet blocks; Junior and Bespoke diners; and a range of accessories (bedding kits, dining kits, waste tanks, decking, canopies, vinyl wraps). All units are manufactured in-house at the Oldham factory, giving the company direct control over quality, design, and customisation. The delivery operation is differentiated by a specialised Euro 6-compliant Volvo FM fleet fitted with HIAB XS477 cranes with 15+ metre reach, enabling self-sufficient unloading and precise unit positioning without third-party equipment. Units feature plug-and-play connections to power, water, and waste services and are advertised as ready for use within 30 minutes of unloading; average daily energy consumption is 9.6 kWh per unit.

Bunkabin generates revenue through unit hire on a subscription-style recurring rental basis, with a minimum charge covering a four-week period that includes cleaning and testing costs. Pricing is quote-based and varies by unit type, quantity, duration, and delivery location; insurance is the customer's responsibility at 200x the weekly hire rate. The go-to-market is direct enterprise field sales, supported by a Nationwide Hire Desk (0345 456 7899) and an online 'Quick Quote' form. Demand is driven by a mix of project-based enterprise contracts (e.g., construction site deployments, defence, and education projects) and recurring seasonal/event bookings (e.g., Glastonbury Festival since 2000). The company is family-run, privately held with no disclosed external funding, and holds a portfolio of accreditations including ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001, CHAS, Investors in People, Living Wage, MPBA, CPA, and DBS clearance.

Name

Bunkabin

Legal name

Bunkabin

Website

https://bunkabin.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Bunkabin is a UK family-run manufacturer and hirer of portable accommodation and welfare units, operating the UK's largest sleeper hire fleet of 2,800+ units. It serves construction, events, defence, education, agriculture, and healthcare customers from depots in Oldham and Dunstable.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Portable Site Accommodation

NAICS

Rooming and Boarding Houses, Dormitories, and Workers' Camps (72131), Rooming and Boarding Houses, Dormitories, and Workers' Camps (7213), Other Commercial and Industrial Machinery and Equipment Rental and Leasing (53249)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000), Services-Equipment Rental & Leasing, Nec (7359)

akta.pro primary industry

Workforce/Project-Based Extended Stay (Industrial & Construction) (THAGAEAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Workforce & Contract Worker Monthly Housing (THAMAFAE), Military & Government Extended Stay Lodging (THAGAEAG), Site Services & Temporary Infrastructure Rental/Leasing (Portable Toilets, Fencing, Storage Containers) (TLABAFAH)

Keywords

• Portable site accommodation
• Modular sleeper units
• Welfare facility hire
• Construction site cabins
• Portable building hire

Headquarters

HQ city

Oldham

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, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Portable Accommodation and Welfare Unit Hire: Bunkabin generates revenue primarily through the hire of portable sleeper cabins, shower blocks, toilet blocks, diner units, and accessories. Units are hired on a daily, weekly, or longer-term basis. A minimum charge covers a four-week hire period, which includes cleaning and testing costs. Insurance is the hirer's responsibility (arranged at 200x the weekly hire rate per terms and conditions). Units can be hired individually or in large quantities for major projects. Accessories (bedding kits, dining kits, waste tanks, steps, decking, canopies, vinyl wraps) are available as optional add-ons.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Bunkabin manufactures and hires portable site accommodation and welfare units — including sleeper cabins, shower blocks, toilet blocks, diner units, and accessories — from its purpose-built Oldham factory. All units are delivered fully built on Bunkabin's own specialised Euro 6 HGV fleet fitted with HIAB cranes, enabling self-sufficient unloading and on-site installation within 30 minutes. The hire fleet of 2,800+ sleeper units serves construction, events, education, defence, agriculture, healthcare, renewable energy, and other sectors across Great Britain.

Product overview

Bunkabin offers a unified portfolio of portable accommodation and welfare units primarily for hire, manufactured at their Oldham factory. The core product range comprises sleeper units (Junior Deluxe and premium Bespoke configurations in single, twin, and lounge layouts), hygiene facilities (shower blocks and toilet blocks in standard and deluxe variants), and dining solutions (Junior Diner and Bespoke Diner for catering). These primary units can be enhanced through add-on accessories including bedding kits, dining kits, waste tanks, tank connectors, steps, decking, canopies, and vinyl wrap stickers. The modular nature of the system allows customers to combine units for complete site accommodation villages, serving industries including construction, events, agriculture, education, defence, and renewable energy.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Junior Deluxe Sleeper Entry-level portable sleeper cabin with compact design featuring en-suite bathroom, thermostatic heating, storage solutions, and configuration options including single, twin, and triple setups, for hire by site-based workers.
• Bespoke Sleeper Premium portable sleeper unit with a 50% larger bedroom than the Junior Deluxe, featuring full-size microwave, fridge, fitted wardrobe, walnut-look furniture, heated towel rail, and enhanced electrical sockets, available in single, twin, and lounge configurations.
• Shower Blocks Portable shower facilities providing clean, reliable shower amenities with changing areas, locks, heating, and vanity units, available as twin shower units or combined deluxe shower and toilet configurations for site workers.
• Toilet Blocks Portable toilet facilities featuring flushing toilets, waterless urinals, large sinks, hand driers, and large mirrors, available as standard or deluxe configurations with lockable cubicles for site workers and event attendees.
• Junior Diner Compact portable canteen unit with full-size single fan-assisted oven, four-ringed electric hob, fitted microwave, full-size fridge, boiler tap, large double sink, and seating for up to eight people for on-site catering.
• Bespoke Diner Premium portable catering facility featuring integrated full-size fridge, freezer, single-fan oven, four-ring electric hob, two microwaves, six-litre boiling water tap, instantaneous boiler, and space for eight to twelve people with thermostatically-controlled infra-red heated interior.
• Bunkabin Accessories Range of hire add-ons including bedding kits (duvet, sheet, pillow, towel), dining kits (crockery, cutlery, pans, utensils), 800/900-gallon waste tanks with tank connectors, single and double steps, wooden decking to form Bunkabin Villages, canopies for weather protection, and custom vinyl wrap stickers for branding or camouflage.

Quantifiable outcome

• 200 Bunkabin units delivered and installed in 22 days for Queen's 90th Birthday at Windsor Castle
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers18 records

Segments13 records

Ideal customer profiles7 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• CarillionAmeycoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2016Bunkabin worked closely with CarillionAmey (the main contractor) and its subcontractors on the Royal Navy accommodation project at Rosyth Dockyard, coordinating installation of 315 units across four phases as part of the Defence Infrastructure Organisation contract for HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales aircraft carrier construction.
• Glastonbury FestivalflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerBunkabin has provided on-site sleeping accommodation for Glastonbury Festival since 2000, deploying 322 units annually for management, staff, and support services. The relationship is described as a military-scale logistical operation requiring weeks of planning. The festival has continued to return to Bunkabin year after year, making this a flagship long-term partnership.
• H Power GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerH Power Group engaged Bunkabin in 2015 to deliver a turnkey accommodation solution for performers at Her Majesty The Queen's 90th Birthday Celebrations at Windsor Castle. 200+ Junior Deluxe Sleepers with bedding kits were delivered and installed in 22 days.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Container Conversions: UK specialist in converted shipping containers used as portable accommodation, welfare units, and site offices. Comparable hire/sale model targeting construction and events but smaller fleet and narrower product range than Bunkabin.

Broad incumbents

• Sunbelt Rentals UK: UK arm of the largest equipment rental company in North America, offering site accommodation and welfare units alongside plant hire. Significantly larger and broader than Bunkabin, with overlapping product categories and customers.
• Speedy Hire: One of the UK's largest plant and equipment hire companies with a broad portfolio that overlaps into site welfare and temporary accommodation through its modular/Wernick relationship. Larger and more diversified than Bunkabin but serves the same hire customer base.

Direct peers

• Elliott UK: UK specialist in modular building hire including site accommodation, welfare units, and portable cabins serving construction, infrastructure, and events. Direct competitor to Bunkabin in the hire-only portable accommodation segment.
• Portakabin: Established UK manufacturer and hirer of portable and modular buildings, including site accommodation, welfare units, and offices. Comparable to Bunkabin in product breadth, hire-led business model, and UK focus.
• Mobile Mini UK: UK provider of portable container and storage hire, with growing overlap into welfare and accommodation units. Comparable hire-led asset rental model serving UK construction and infrastructure markets.
• Wernick Group: UK provider of portable and modular buildings for hire and sale, including site accommodation and welfare facilities. Closely comparable in manufacturing + hire model and UK construction/events customer base.
• JayBee Portable Accommodations: UK-based portable accommodation hire specialist offering sleeper units and welfare facilities to construction and infrastructure clients. Comparable to Bunkabin in scale (mid-tier fleet) and target customer profile.
• Site Equip: UK supplier of welfare units, portable toilets, and site accommodation for hire. Comparable niche focus on site welfare rather than full modular buildings, similar hire model and construction-industry focus.
• Algeco: One of Europe's largest modular space hire specialists offering portable cabins, sleeper units, welfare facilities, and site accommodation. Directly comparable to Bunkabin across product range, hire model, and target end markets (construction, education, infrastructure).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/bunkabin

Compliance9 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Bunkabin