Top 5 Ways Businesses Use Shipping Containers Across the UK
11 February 2026
Shipping containers offer a cost-effective, flexible storage solution for a wide range of organisations. Across Suffolk, businesses, clubs, schools and landowners use containers in practical ways to solve everyday storage challenges.
Below are five real examples of how shipping containers are being used locally.
Cricket Clubs: Secure Groundskeeping Equipment & General Storage
Stowupland Cricket Club was donated a new one-trip 20ft container by Secure Stores Nationwide following a break-in. The club had been using a shed for storage, which was somewhat dilapidated and not very secure. Sadly, they suffered a break-in and valuable equipment was stolen, including a ride-on mower, strimmer and an air compressor.
Secure Stores leapt into action and, as the business is local to their HQ, they were able to quickly deliver a 20ft container to Stowupland in Mid Suffolk. The club now uses the container to store groundskeeping equipment to keep their cricket pitch pristine. It can also be used for other items such as cricket bats, balls, kit, wickets and scorekeeping equipment.
Garden Centres: Seasonal Storage Requirements
A local garden centre on the outskirts of Ipswich recently took delivery of a number of 40ft high cube shipping containers on a rental basis for seasonal storage. The garden centre has peak periods throughout the year when extra storage is required, mainly in spring and winter.
During spring, garden furniture sales pick up as the weather improves and people start tidying their gardens so they can enjoy their outdoor space in spring and summer. During winter, seasonal goods such as Christmas decorations and gifts require a lot of shop floor space, meaning extra storage is often needed for items that must be removed during the Christmas period. We also supply many garden centres with shipping containers for pet food storage.
Schools: Sports Equipment Storage
A school near Bury St Edmunds recently took delivery of a new one-trip 20ft container for the storage of excess sports equipment. The school had limited storage space in the sports block, particularly as some of the existing cupboards were filled with exam chairs that are only used during GCSE and A-level exams.
The container was placed on the edge of the sports field, giving the school quick and easy access to items such as rounders and cricket bats and balls, cones, footballs, rugby balls, hockey sticks, posts and poles. It also reduces the distance staff need to carry equipment at the start of a lesson. The container is securely locked to prevent unauthorised access, and the padlock is keyed to match others used for sports equipment storage across the site, meaning fewer keys are required for teachers and teaching assistants.
Leisure Centres: Tool Storage for a Surfacing Project
Mid Suffolk Leisure Centre in Stowmarket hired a 20ft container for several weeks to store tools and machinery used during the installation of a 3G artificial grass pitch.
The contractor carrying out the work ordered the container on a short-term hire basis and placed it close to the pitch, allowing tools and machinery to be locked away securely each night. This meant they didn’t have to remove everything from site each evening or risk expensive items being stolen.
The pitch was quickly installed and now provides an all-weather, year-round solution for multiple types of sport.
Farms: Compliant, Bunded Chemical Storage Solution
A farmer near Lowestoft recently had an inspection from BASIS and was advised that their pesticide storage solution needed upgrading to meet current guidelines. They required a secure, lockable solution manufactured from non-porous materials, with good ventilation and a bund to contain any accidental spills.
Luckily, our chemical storage containers tick all of these boxes. A new 20ft (6m) chemical store, finished in dark green, was swiftly delivered and is now in place for pesticide storage. The chemical store features additional ventilation, a steel bunded floor and secure doors fitted with a lock box (a secure area for a padlock).
