ST Containers

What ST Containers does

ST Containers is a Sussex-based, family-owned division of Sussex Transport Limited that supplies shipping and storage containers on hire, sale and conversion terms to residential, commercial, construction, education, sports, agricultural and self-storage-operator customers across East and West Sussex, Surrey, Kent and Hampshire. Its core operations are organised around three transactional pillars — Container Hire, Container Sales and Conversions & Adaptations — supported by off-site container storage, relocation services, welfare/site units, scrap and buy-back, and an accessories catalogue spanning spare parts, racking, ventilation and security hardware. The product range covers 8/9/10/20/40 ft variants in new, used, clearance, open-side, high-cube and tunnel configurations, all backed by downloadable specification sheets.

The company's distinguishing technical capability is operational rather than software-driven: it leverages parent Sussex Transport's in-house specialist fleet to deliver, lift, stack and even relocate fully-loaded containers using a what3words-enabled positioning tool, a combination it highlights as rare in the UK market. Revenue is generated through a mix of recurring weekly/monthly hire, one-time hardware sales, project-based conversion work, and managed off-site storage; promotional pricing (4 weeks free hire, rentals from £10/week) targets volume acquisition across a fragmented customer base. The business is CSTA-accredited and Cyber Essentials certified, with no external funding and no public financial disclosure.

Name

ST Containers

Legal name

Sussex Transport Limited (operating the ST Containers division)

Website

https://st-containers.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

ST Containers is a family-owned South East England supplier of shipping and storage containers on hire, sale, conversion, storage and relocation terms, serving residential, construction, commercial, education, sports, farming and self-storage-operator customers via parent Sussex Transport's in-house delivery fleet.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Shipping Container Hire, Sales, Conversions and Storage Services

NAICS

Warehousing and Storage (4931), General Warehousing and Storage (49311), Other Warehousing and Storage (49319)

SIC

Public Warehousing & Storage (4220), Industrial Trucks, Tractors, Trailors & Stackers (3537), Trucking & Courier Services (No Air) (4210)

akta.pro primary industry

Full Container Storage Yards (Loaded Container Yards) (TLALAJAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Container Yards & Inland Depot Storage (Empty Container Depots/ICDs) (TLALAAAI)

Keywords

• Shipping container hire
• Shipping container sales
• Container conversions
• Container storage services
• Container delivery logistics

Headquarters

HQ city

Lancing

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Container Hire (Rental): Recurring rental income from short- and long-term container hire, including 4 weeks free hire promotion. Prices start from as little as £10 per week. Customers include homeowners, construction sites, sports clubs, commercial businesses, and Christmas tree retailers. Contracts cover hire T&Cs with collection/delivery fees separately.
2. Container Sales: One-time purchase of new (one-trip) and used ex-hire containers in 8/9/10/20/40 ft sizes, including specialised variants (open side, high cube, tunnel, clearance). Customers retain the asset with no ongoing fees; ST Containers may buy units back. Sales T&Cs apply.
3. Container Storage Services: Off-site secure container park storage of customers' own containers, converted containers, cabins, pop-up shops, exhibition equipment and machinery. Collection and redelivery service available; recurring revenue.
4. Container Conversions & Adaptations: Bespoke project revenue from converting containers into offices, garden rooms, food kiosks, pop-up shops, workshops, events/promotional stands, garages, bike stores and medical units. Pre-delivery conversion management.
5. Container Accessories & Spare Parts Sales: Sales of accessories and spare parts including spare castings, sealants, door locks, gaskets, vents, replacement roof panels, ramps, padlocks, key safes, divider walls, sensor lighting, levelling pads, twist locks, clamps, door stays, lighting brackets, racking, shelving, ventilation solutions, lights, castings & lashings, and security products (combination padlocks, lock boxes, corner locks, hinges, seals).
6. Container Relocation / Move Service: Fee-based service for moving full containers between sites, including collecting loaded containers from one site and transporting to another, supported by the parent company's heavy haulage capability.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

ST Containers supplies shipping and storage containers in 8/9/10/20/40 ft sizes (new one-trip, used, clearance, open-side, high-cube and tunnel variants) on a hire, sale or conversion basis across Sussex, Surrey, Kent and Hampshire. Core revenue is generated through short- and long-term container hire, outright container sales, bespoke container conversions and adaptations (offices, kiosks, pop-ups, changing rooms), and off-site secure container storage, with delivery, lifting and precise on-site positioning executed by an in-house specialist fleet operated through parent Sussex Transport.

Product overview

ST Containers is a single physical-product business (not a software platform) that supplies shipping and storage containers on a unified service backbone operated together with its parent company Sussex Transport. The core offering is organised around three transactional pillars — Container Hire, Container Sales and Container Conversions & Adaptations — supplemented by supporting services (Container Storage, Container Moving & Relocation, Welfare & Site Units, Sell Your Container, Scrap Your Container, and Locating & Stacking). These services are delivered across a discrete product catalogue of container size variants: 8 & 9 Foot New & Used, 10 Foot New & Used, 20 Foot (New, Used, Clearance, Open Side, High Cube and Tunnel), and 40 Foot (New, Used, Clearance, Open Side, High Cube and Tunnel), each backed by downloadable specification sheets. A complementary Accessories module adds spare parts, self-storage supplies, safety solutions, racking & shelving, ventilation & condensation control, lighting, castings & lashings, and security hardware, allowing customers to customise any of the core container products. Coverage spans East & West Sussex, Surrey, Kent and Hampshire, with delivery and positioning handled by Sussex Transport's own specialist fleet using tools such as What3Words for precise placement.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Container Hire Short- and long-term rental of shipping and storage containers (8/9/10/20/40 ft, including new, used, clearance, open-side, high-cube and tunnel variants) delivered and positioned on customer sites, with the option of off-site rental at the company's secure container park. Pricing starts from £10 per week with a 4 weeks free hire promotional offer. Customers include homeowners, construction sites, sports clubs, commercial businesses and seasonal retailers.
• Container Sales One-time purchase of new (one-trip) and used ex-hire shipping containers in 8/9/10/20/40 ft sizes, including specialised variants (open side, high cube, tunnel, clearance). Customers retain the asset with no ongoing fees; ST Containers may buy units back. Sales T&Cs apply.
• Conversions & Adaptations Bespoke pre-delivery conversion and modification of shipping containers into offices, garden rooms, food kiosks/restaurants, pop-up shops, workshops, event stands, garages, bike stores and medical or welfare units. Work includes insulation, electrics, ventilation, custom doors, lockboxes, vents, shelving, paint to RAL codes, Grafotherm anti-condensation treatment and bespoke fabrication.
• Container Storage (off-site) Secure off-site storage of customers' own shipping containers, converted containers, site cabins, pop-up shops, exhibition equipment, trucks, trailers and machinery at ST Containers' secure container park, with collection and redelivery managed by Sussex Transport.
• Container Moving & Relocation Drop-and-fill moving service for households and businesses, including relocation of loaded containers between sites (weight restrictions apply), supported by Sussex Transport's specialist fleet and lifting capability.
• Shipping Container Accessories Range of container accessories and spare parts including spare castings, sealants, door locks, gaskets, vents, replacement roof panels, ramps, padlocks, key safes, divider walls, sensor lighting, levelling pads, twist locks, clamps, door stays, lighting brackets, racking, shelving, ventilation solutions, lights, castings & lashings, and security products (combination padlocks, lock boxes, corner locks, hinges, seals).
• Sell Your Container Service for customers who want to sell their used shipping containers back to ST Containers.
• Scrap Your Container Container disposal and scrapping service for end-of-life shipping containers.
• Welfare & Site Units Selection of welfare units and site accommodation delivered by experienced drivers for construction sites and contractor use, with the benefit of daily delivery team presence on construction sites.
• Locating & Stacking Service Specialist delivery, precise on-site positioning and stacking of customers' containers (including What3words-enabled exact placement), available as a standalone service for customers who already own containers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Self-storage park example: 25 x 20ft containers rented from ST at ~£43/month each; resold at £40/week each, generating ~£4,333/month inbound vs ~£1,083/month cost — near £40k gross profit and break-even occupancy of just 25%.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles7 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered flagship / parent company, core industry membership, core operational integration, brand-awareness sponsorship, community partnership and strategic ecosystem partner.

• Sussex Transport Limitedflagship / parent companyStrategic or Co-development PartnerST Containers is a division of Sussex Transport Limited. Sussex Transport is the parent logistics, container transport and haulage company that supplies ST Containers' specialist delivery fleet, drivers, lifting/stacking capability and shared office/back-office functions. Sussex Transport's transport arm is integral to ST Containers' promise of accurate, hassle-free container delivery and positioning, including the ability to relocate full loaded containers.
• Container Self-Storage & Traders Association (CSTA)core industry membershipOthersST Containers is a proud member of the CSTA — the leading UK body for container self-storage and trading companies. Accreditation renewed for 2024 signals compliance with operational, ethical and safety standards; the CSTA certificate is displayed on the website. The CSTA is also referenced as providing industry context and best practice guidance.
• what3wordscore operational integrationTechnology or IntegrationST Containers uses what3words three-word addressing to ensure containers are positioned exactly where customers want them. The site references an interactive delivery location tool from Sussex Transport built around what3words, enabling precise on-site placement without ambiguity.
• Team SEASOAR (2024 Atlantic Challenge / World's Toughest Row)brand-awareness sponsorshipGTM or Marketing PartnerST Containers, alongside sister company Sussex Transport, sponsored Team SEASOAR in the 2024 World's Toughest Row (Atlantic Challenge). Promotion via news/blog and social channels dated 09 Oct 2024.
• Hastings United Football Clubcommunity partnershipGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership announced 20 Jun 2024 with Hastings United Football Club, 'rooted in community spirit'. Used for grassroots sports engagement and brand visibility, with related blog content and case study material.
• Football Foundationstrategic ecosystem partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Football Foundation is the UK's largest sports charity and offers grants for purchase of new or fully refurbished storage containers by grassroots football clubs. ST Containers actively partners with the grant pathway, enabling clubs like Worthing Dynamos to fund container purchases (case study 25 Oct 2024). This creates a recurring sales channel into grassroots football.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Portakabin: UK modular building specialist offering portable cabins, site offices and container-style accommodation to construction, education and commercial customers. Overlaps with ST's welfare/site units and office conversion offerings but as part of a much broader modular buildings business.
• Algeco UK: UK leader in modular and portable buildings including container-based site accommodation, offices and welfare units. Comparable to ST's conversions and welfare/site units offering but at significantly larger national scale and with broader product portfolio.
• GAP Group: Major UK plant, tool and equipment hire company that also supplies shipping containers for site storage and welfare. Much larger incumbent with national depot network; competes with ST on construction-site container hire as part of a broader hire catalogue.
• Mobile Mini UK: UK arm of Mobile Mini, a large portable storage container supplier offering ground-level and high-cube container hire to construction, retail and residential customers. Significantly larger scale than ST; overlaps on core container hire but with national rather than regional coverage.
• WillScot: US-headquartered mobile office and portable storage provider with UK presence offering container-based storage and modular space solutions. Comparable to ST on portable container hire/storage but at much larger scale and with broader portfolio.

Direct peers

• S Jones Containers: UK-based shipping container hire, sale and conversion company with comparable product offering (8/10/20/40 ft containers, conversions and self-storage site supply). Closest direct competitor to ST Containers in scale, geography (UK-wide) and service mix.
• Cleveland Containers: Established UK shipping container supplier offering new and used containers for hire and sale across multiple sizes, including conversions and accessories. Directly comparable to ST's core hire/sales proposition at a larger national scale.
• ContainerBase: UK supplier of shipping containers for hire, sale and conversion, including 10/20/40 ft units and modified containers for site offices and welfare. Directly comparable mid-tier competitor with overlapping product mix and customer segments.
• Instant Space: UK container hire, sale and conversion company offering 10/20/40 ft units with delivery, conversions and accessories. Closely comparable mid-tier direct competitor with overlapping customer segments (construction, self-storage operators, residential).
• Lion Containers: UK shipping container hire, sale and conversion specialist serving both individuals and businesses nationwide. Competes directly with ST on container sizes, conversions, delivery and self-storage operator supply.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights8 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/ST_Containers
• Facebookfacebook.com/stcontainers
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/st-containers
• Instagraminstagram.com/st_containers

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 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 ST Containers