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Teesside container company boosted by £100k UK Steel Enterprise investment

Teesside-based Cleveland Containers has received a £100k investment from UK Steel Enterprise, boosting the firm’s expansion plans.

The container sales and hire company, which operates nationally and has a current turnover of £7m and workforce of 24, is investing a total of £330k to purchase new equipment and extend current office space to accommodate an expected 10 new jobs.

The £100k from UK Steel Enterprise, the business-support subsidiary of Tata Steel, is made up of a £50k loan and a £50k Regional Growth Fund grant.

The company was set up in 2011 by Johnathan and Jane Bulmer, who have substantial experience in the transport and logistics sector. Its customers include many of the main shipping lines and blue-chip companies from the agriculture, education and offshore sectors.

Johnathan Bulmer said: “UK Steel Enterprise’s investment is a very welcome and important part of our expansion package. We have grown rapidly in our first four years and expect that growth in turnover and profitability to continue.

“We are ideally placed on this site with excellent access to both the road network and Teesport Terminals. Now we will have the extra office space we need as we anticipate taking on at least 10 people over the next three years including a driver, finance assistant, sales, marketing and operational staff. It will also improve the working environment for our existing team.

“We have been helped by the growth in the self storage market and the current strength of the construction sector. On the hire side we currently have 200 containers on hire and our long-term plans are to increase this to 1000.

The new equipment purchased includes a specialist truck and crane attachment to deliver containers and a container handler for the Teesside depot which will all improve efficiency and save costs.

Sarah Thorpe of investor UK Steel Enterprise said: “Cleveland Containers has not only put in a very strong performance to date but demonstrates significant potential for future growth. The management team is highly experienced and the company has established an excellent reputation in a short period of time.”

Chartered accountant Mike Firman, of Teesside-based practice Firman Financial Solutions, provides financial consultancy services to the company and introduced it to UK Steel Enterprise, helping to prepare a business plan, financial projections and the funding application.

“UK Steel Enterprise has been very supportive,” he said, “and this project is a good example of successful teamwork helping a company to grow and create jobs for the area.”