A SHIPPING container sales and hire company, which has grown rapidly in just four years has started a major expansion.

Cleveland Containers, which operates nationally from Teesside has a turnover of £7m and workforce of 24. It is investing £330,000 on new equipment and extending its office space to cater for ten new jobs.

It has received £100,000, made up of a £50,000 loan from UK Steel Enterprise (UKSE), the business-support subsidiary of Tata Steel, and a £50,000 Regional Growth Fund grant.

The company – based on a seven-acre site in Grangetown, Middlesbrough – is already one of the UK’s top five operators.

It is recognised as one of the main depots on Teesside for the storage, handling and maintenance of shipping containers and is expanding to meet growing demand for its services around the sale, hire and repair of shipping containers.

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

Mr Bulmer said: "UKSE’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 ten people over the next three years including a driver, finance assistant, sales, marketing and operational staff.

"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 save costs.

Sarah Thorpe, from UKSE, 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 Firman Financial Solutions, provides financial consultancy services to the company and introduced it to UK Steel Enterprise.

He said: "UKSE has been very supportive and this project is a good example of successful teamwork helping a company to grow and create jobs for the area."

UKSE celebrates its 40th anniversary this year and has invested more than £19m into businesses in the Northern region and a further £12m into providing business premises.