Cleveland Group (Cleveland) is the UK’s the UK’s largest supplier of shipping containers.
Founded in 2011, Stockton-based Cleveland began as a small, family-run business specialising in shipping containers. It expanded in 2022 to become Cleveland Group with divisions including Cleveland Hire and Cleveland Modular.
The business was founded by husband-and-wife Johnathan and Jane Bulmer. It specialises in the sale and hire of shipping containers and site accommodation units with around 15,500 trading customers from a diverse range of sectors.
Supporting a local North East business to become national
LDC first backed Cleveland’ management team in June 2022 to support the next stage of its growth and expansion plans. This included plans to enhance the company’s sales and rental offering, while also creating opportunities for new and existing employees.
With LDC’s backing, it has more than doubled its headcount from 45 to 100 and expanded with depots in Scotland, the Midlands and the South West. The group has also been growing at about 30 per cent year-on-year.
The business has several initiatives as part of its commitment to improved social and environmental responsibility including partnering with Ecologi, an organisation which aims to reduce the carbon footprints of businesses by supporting sustainability projects. Cleveland became carbon neutral in 2023.
I joined the business in the wake of the LDC investment and it’s been a fantastic first year. The traction we’re making has been greater than we thought it would be. We’ve almost doubled the workforce in this time too which has meant we have brought in new talent to go alongside the existing skilled workforce.”
As soon as we met Gareth at LDC, we knew that LDC was the right partner to support our growth plans. They have helped to bring in new experience and perspectives to our business, and it’s a real benefit that their Newcastle office is only a short distance away. We feel well supported to continue our growth from our base here in the North East.”
Awards
The Growth 100 (No. 52)
The FEBE Growth 100 list for 2023
The High Growth Business of the Year
SME Business Awards 2022
North East Company of the Year
The North East Business Awards 2022