What Portable Space does

Portable Space Ltd. is a privately-held UK supplier of portable accommodation and storage solutions, founded in 2002 by Mark Black and headquartered in Stowmarket, Suffolk. The company sells and hires shipping containers (sizes from 6ft to 40ft), portable cabins (jackleg, steel anti-vandal, flat pack), modular buildings (Steel, Compliant and Euro variants) and bespoke ISO container conversions (cafés, retail units, accommodation, plant rooms) across twelve customer verticals including construction, defence, education, energy, public sector, retail, self-storage and agriculture. Customers range from individual homeowners transacting via 24/7 e-commerce to enterprise clients such as QinetiQ, Barnes Construction, Keller UK and the MOD, served through a hybrid model of self-service online shop, inside-sales hire accounts, dedicated enterprise field sales and a 13-14 vehicle in-house HIAB-equipped delivery fleet with specialist installation capability.

The business operates three production-related sites in Bacton, including a CAD-driven in-house conversion workshop, a state-of-the-art paint shop with heat recovery and additional modular-building facilities, plus a 2,500+ unit hire fleet of anti-vandal cabins, toilets and containers. Revenue is generated through one-time sales of new, used and converted units (including financing via IwocaPay BNPL and First Business Finance asset finance), recurring monthly hire income, and professional delivery and installation services. Logistics is a core differentiator: purpose-built Volvo trucks with HIAB cranes, PDA-linked office systems, and an in-house Appointed Person for complex lift plans enable delivery to restricted-access sites that competing haulage-dependent suppliers struggle to serve. The company holds an unusually broad compliance stack (ISO 9001/14001/45001, JOSCAR, Achilles UVDB, Constructionline Gold, FORS Silver, Cyber Essentials Plus) that functions as a procurement barrier in defence, utility and public-sector tenders.

Portable Space is led by Managing Director Mark Dolman (promoted from Commercial Director in 2017 after a 2012 management buy-out financed by Handelsbanken) alongside founder-Chairman Mark Black and a 67-person team. The company entered the Suffolk Top 100 at #76 in 2022 on approximately £76M turnover and has recorded 20 consecutive years of revenue growth, with 30%+ growth in 2021. Distribution spans the UK for cabin hire and worldwide for ISO-gauge container conversions, with recent tier-one infrastructure traction via the January 2026 Sizewell C nuclear PPE partnership with Mathias & Sons.

Name

Portable Space

Legal name

Portable Space Ltd.

Website

https://portablespace.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Portable Space is a privately-held UK supplier that sells, hires and converts shipping containers, portable cabins and modular buildings for construction, defence, education, energy, retail and public-sector customers, supported by its own HIAB delivery fleet and in-house manufacturing.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Portable Accommodation & Storage Solutions

NAICS

Office Machinery and Equipment Rental and Leasing (53242), Transportation and Warehousing (48-49), Motor Vehicle Body and Trailer Manufacturing (33621)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Equipment Rental & Leasing (7350), Misc Industrial & Commercial Machinery & Equipment (3590)

akta.pro primary industry

Residential Portable Storage Container Rental & Moving (HSAKAIAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Portable Storage Container Long-Distance & Interstate Moves (HSAKAIAG), Portable Storage Container Delivery, Pickup & Repositioning Services (HSAKAIAE), Portable Storage Container Packing/Loading & Unloading Labor Services (HSAKAIAF), Rental Fleet Storage Yards (Cars, Vans, Light Trucks) (TLALAKAH)

Keywords

• Portable accommodation
• Shipping container sales
• Container conversions
• Portable cabin hire
• Modular buildings

Headquarters

HQ city

Stowmarket

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Container Sales: New (one-trip) shipping containers, used shipping containers, and flat pack containers sold throughout England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. One-time purchase model with immediate ownership transfer.
2. Cabin and Portable Accommodation Sales: Jackleg cabins, steel anti-vandal cabins, toilets, flat pack cabins, modular buildings and living/sleeping accommodation sold for permanent or temporary use.
3. Container Conversions: Custom ISO shipping container conversions including cafés, retail units, accommodation, and plant rooms. CAD-designed and built to exact specifications.
4. Cabin and Container Hire: Modern hire fleet of steel anti-vandal cabins, toilets, and containers with options for linking and stacking. Currently focuses on delivery in England with flexible short and long-term rental periods.
5. Finance Services: Partnership with IwocaPay offering buy now pay later over 3 or 12 months. Asset finance through First Business Finance for limited companies, partnerships and sole traders.
6. Modular Buildings: Larger linked buildings available in Steel and Compliant types built in UK factory, and Euro modular designed in Austria and shipped flat packed. Also refurbished second-hand options.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Portable Space designs, manufactures, sells, and hires portable accommodation and storage solutions across the UK and internationally. The company supplies shipping containers (new, used, flat pack), portable cabins (jackleg, steel anti-vandal, flat pack), custom ISO container conversions (cafés, retail units, accommodation, hazardous material and plant room containers), and modular buildings (Steel, Compliant, and Euro modular). Products are delivered and installed using the company's own fleet of 13 purpose-built HIAB-equipped vehicles, with short and long-term hire options available on a 2,500+ unit fleet.

Product overview

Portable Space is a multi-award winning UK supplier offering a comprehensive portfolio of portable accommodation and storage solutions available for both purchase and hire. The product range centers on three main categories: (1) Shipping Containers in various sizes (6ft-40ft) including standard, High Cube, Open Sided, Tunnel, Open Top, and Reefer variants, available for sale (new one-trip and used) and hire; (2) Portable Cabins including Jackleg Cabins, Steel Anti-Vandal Cabins, and Flat Pack Cabins in multiple sizes, offered for both sale and hire; and (3) Container Conversions featuring CAD-designed and in-house built ISO container modifications including cafes, retail units, accommodation, and plant rooms. The portfolio also includes Flat Pack Kiosks for hospitality/events, Modular Buildings (UK and Euro-built), Toilet & Shower Blocks, Mobile/Welfare Cabins, Garden Rooms, and specialized units like Steel Drying Rooms. The company operates its own transport fleet of 14 vehicles (including HIAB cranes) for UK-wide delivery and installation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Shipping Containers for Sale New (one-trip) and used shipping containers available in multiple sizes (6ft, 8ft, 10ft, 20ft, 30ft, 40ft) with variants including High Cube, Open Sided, Tunnel, Open Top, Reefers, Bunded Storage, and Export containers. Sold throughout England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.
• Shipping Container Hire Short and long-term container hire from the modern hire fleet of 2,500+ units with linking and stacking capabilities. Available for delivery throughout England with flexible rental periods.
• Flat Pack Containers Self-assembly storage containers in various sizes (2m, 3m, 4m, 6m) that can be delivered flat-packed and assembled on-site for restricted access locations.
• Flat Pack Cabins Self-assembly portable office cabins available in multiple sizes (2.3m, 3.3m, 4.3m, 6.5m) for sale and hire, with options for linking and side/end configurations.
• Flat Pack Kiosks Self-assembly retail and hospitality units designed for outdoor events, food and drink service, available in 3m and 4m XL sizes with various finish options.
• Jackleg Cabins Traditional jackleg portable cabins with adjustable legs for leveling on uneven ground, suitable for site offices, workshops, and combined accommodation. Available for sale.
• Steel Anti-Vandal Cabins Secure steel portable cabins designed to resist vandalism, available for hire and sale as offices, canteens, toilets, and combined units.
• Portable Cabin Hire Modern hirefleet of steel anti-vandal cabins, toilets, and containers with options for linking and stacking for short or long-term project accommodation needs.
• Shipping Container Conversions Custom ISO container conversions including container cafés, food and retail units, accommodation cabins, hazardous material and plant room containers, CAD designed and built in-house. In-gauge converted containers can be delivered worldwide by sea.
• Modular Buildings Larger modular and linked buildings available for sale in three types: Steel, Compliant (built in UK factory), and Euro modular (designed in Austria, shipped flat-packed). Options include modular offices, classrooms, healthcare buildings, welfare units, leisure/retail units, and defence buildings.
• Mobile/Welfare Cabins Towable mobile welfare units for site accommodation, canteens, changing rooms with lockers and showers. Includes mobile welfare units that can be moved easily from site to site.
• Toilet & Shower Blocks Portable toilet and shower facilities available for hire and sale, including 2+1 steel toilet cabins (12ft x 9ft) and double toilet units for permanent or temporary use.
• Garden Rooms Flat pack garden room units for residential use, including the Como Garden Office range for home-based workspaces and additional residential space.

Quantifiable outcome

• 20 consecutive years of record business growth
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers40 records

Segments12 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature5 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.

• Mathias & SonsmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Partnership with Mathias & Sons awarded major contract to supply PPE to Sizewell C nuclear power station project, creating 23 local jobs. Portable Space serving as main PPE provider for this significant infrastructure project.
• Modular & Portable Buildings Association (MPBA)coreOthersActive member since at least 2018. MPBA founded in 1938 and is the single recognised voice for the modular and portable buildings sector. Provides networking, training, standards development, and representation on BSI, LPCB-Expert Group D, BRE, LABC, CLG, NHS, Cskills-CITB, and Carbon Trust committees.
• Self Storage Association (SSA UK)coreOthersPrincipal trade association representing self storage operators and industry supplier members' interests in the UK. Portable Space holds certificate of membership.
• FORS (Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme)coreOthersSilver accreditation achieved. Voluntary accreditation scheme for fleet operators aiming to raise quality levels and demonstrate exemplary best practice in safety, efficiency, and environmental protection.
• Achilles UVDBcoreOthersUtility industry pre-qualification system used across the UK. Certificate of Registration maintained. Also holds Sustainability Certificate for utilities market.
• ConstructionlinecoreOthersGold membership. Tens of thousands of buyers use this platform to identify construction suppliers. Constructionline validates members providing high quality supplier pool.
• Chas (Contractors Health and Safety Assessment Scheme)coreOthersCreated in 1997 to improve health and safety standards across UK. Certificate of Accreditation maintained.
• ALLMI (Association of Lorry Loader Manufacturers and Importers)coreOthersUK's only Trade Association devoted exclusively to lorry loader industry. Founded in 1978 at request of Health and Safety Executive. Certificate of Membership maintained.
• British Assessment BureaucoreOthersAnnual rigorous audit against ISO9001:2015, ISO14001:2015 and ISO45001:2018 standards. Triple crown of ISO certifications achieved.
• Suffolk Chamber of CommercecoreOthersActive member supporting local business community. Headline sponsor of Suffolk Chamber Prestige Dinner 2025.
• Supply Chain Sustainability SchoolminorOthersVirtual learning platform offering sustainability training and resources to upskill professionals in construction industry.
• SafeContractor (Alcumus)coreOthersUtilised by hundreds of large organisations requiring health and safety accredited contractors. Seal of accreditation reassures buyers of professionally managed businesses.
• Acclaim Accreditation (SSIP)coreOthersSSIP members scheme supporting improvement of health and safety standards across UK and reducing duplication of paperwork in procurement.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Speedy Space: UK portable cabin and welfare unit hire specialist. Competes with Portable Space in the portable cabin hire segment for construction sites and infrastructure projects.
• Mobile Mini UK: UK arm of Mobile Mini, hiring and selling shipping containers and storage units. Direct competitor in the container hire/sale segment of Portable Space's business.
• S Jones Containers: UK-based supplier of new and used shipping containers for sale, hire and conversion. Overlaps with Portable Space across container sales, hire and bespoke container modification services.
• Wernick Group: UK manufacturer and hirer of portable and modular buildings (acquired Konstructa). Competes with Portable Space on anti-vandal steel cabins, modular buildings, and site accommodation across the UK.
• Elliott: UK supplier of portable cabins and modular buildings for hire and sale. Closely comparable product mix and customer base (construction, education, public sector) to Portable Space.
• Portakabin: One of the UK's largest manufacturers and hirers of portable and modular buildings. Directly comparable to Portable Space across cabin hire, modular buildings, and bespoke conversion offerings for construction, education and public sector customers.
• Allspace: UK portable cabin and modular building supplier offering hire and sale. Directly comparable to Portable Space in the cabin hire market, particularly for construction and infrastructure customers.
• Boxman: UK supplier of container conversions for cafés, bars, retail and accommodation. Closely comparable niche of bespoke ISO container conversions to Portable Space's Container Conversions division.
• Algeco: Major European modular space and portable accommodation provider with significant UK operations. Competes directly in cabin hire, modular buildings and welfare units for construction and infrastructure customers.

Broad incumbents

• Willmott Dixon: Major UK construction and infrastructure contractor that both uses portable accommodation products at scale and competes in adjacent modular building delivery through its own development arms. A broad incumbent comparable on customer profile and scale rather than product specialism.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/PortableSpace
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCOVpUJch5C20LDsf7Fb50-Q/featured
• Facebookfacebook.com/portablespace
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/portable-space-limited
• Instagraminstagram.com/portablespace_
• Pinterestpinterest.co.uk/portablespace

Compliance17 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 Portable Space