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About Us

We’re one of the country’s leading shipping container suppliers, specialising in new and used ISO containers, custom container conversions, container parts & accessories, and self-storage solutions.

About Us

40+
YEARS
Supplying shipping containers

600+
BESPOKE
Conversions built every year

300+
PARTS & ACCESSORIES
In stock and ready to ship

We have four decades of shipping container experience and knowledge, including selling, renting, maintaining, fixing, customising, and building. You’ll find our team of engineers and specialists at our container park in Greater Manchester, which is open to both trade customers and the general public.

Our speciality is providing a wide variety of containers for many different needs. This includes sizes from 8ft to 40ft, a large range of parts and accessories, and a secure self-storage solution on our site. All our containers are ISO compliant and can be used for standard storage or completely redesigned to suit your needs.

Why Choose Universal Containers

Why Choose Universal Containers

Bespoke container conversions and services

Every customer needs something different. We can accommodate many different container purposes, orders, and preferences, including custom conversions, repairs, and fabrications. No request is too big, too small, or too specific. We’ve done it all!

Why Choose Universal Containers

We deliver and install at any UK mainland address

The job isn’t done until your container is fully installed. Our experienced and trained team of engineers will deliver your container to any UK mainland address and install it in your preferred location.

Why Choose Universal Containers

Maintenance and repairs taken care of

We provide a huge range of parts & accessories, as well as repairs and general maintenance services of your container, including anti-condensation protection, new doors and windows, repainting, new panels or panel repair, flooring and insulation installation, and much more.

Meet Our Innovators

George Woolley

George Woolley

CEO

Andy Rushton

Andy Rushton

Sales Director

Carl Jeffries

Carl Jeffries

Project Manager

Paul McAuliffe

Paul McAuliffe

Depot Manager

Shaun McWilliams

Shaun McWilliams

Project & CAD Engineer

Rachael Richmond

Rachael Richmond

Accounts Manager

Pauline Rawlinson

Pauline Rawlinson

Transport Manager

Colin Redmond

Colin Redmond

Sales Team

Cole Dunville

Cole Dunville

Sales Team

Peter Worlsey

Peter Worlsey

Procurement

Vanessa Hacking

Vanessa Hacking

Accounts Assistant

Our containers in action

See some of the ways our amazing customers are using their containers.

Case Study: B&Q Click & Collect Container Conversion for Tesco Car Parks Case Studies
Case Study: B&Q Click & Collect Container Conversion for Tesco Car Parks

Universal Containers converted three new 30ft high cube shipping containers into branded Click & Collect units for B&Q, ready for use at selected Tesco car parks.

From Contraband to a Forever Home: Blackpool Zoo’s Shipping Container Tortoise Habitat Case Studies
From Contraband to a Forever Home: Blackpool Zoo’s Shipping Container Tortoise Habitat

Blackpool Zoo has rehomed a group of rescued Sulcata tortoises, several of them seized by UK customs from smugglers, in a converted 16ft shipping container on its Kidepo Trail.

Case Study: Branded Container Gym for Salford City FC Case Studies
Case Study: Branded Container Gym for Salford City FC

Universal Containers was commissioned to design and build a bespoke container gym for Salford City FC, providing players with a dedicated on-site training space.

Case Study: Garden Room Office Container Case Studies
Case Study: Garden Room Office Container

Despite restricted site access, we delivered a fully insulated, light-filled container office with carefully planned glazing, heating and electrics. The finished space provides a practical, year-round working environment suited for everyday use.

Case Study: Compact Coffee Shop Case Studies
Case Study: Compact Coffee Shop

We built a fully functional compact coffee shop from a shipping container with doors for customer access, a roller shutter for security, a serving hatch, and a small kitchen area complete with water heater and sink. 

Case Study: Shipping Container Museum & Workshop Case Studies
Case Study: Shipping Container Museum & Workshop

In the pursuit of enhancing their museum and workshop facility, the Locomotive Society sought a creative solution to provide a welcoming space for their members, while adhering to the historical aesthetic of their railway centric environment.

Case Study: Garden Center Case Studies
Case Study: Garden Center

Universal Containers embarked on an exciting project to enhance a garden centre’s retail experience by supplying and customising two shipping container cabins. The goal was to seamlessly link these cabins on-site and transform them into a vibrant and functional gift shop.

Case Study: Outdoor Catering Unit Case Studies
Case Study: Outdoor Catering Unit

A restaurant had been operating successfully for several years. However, due to increasing demand and limited space within the restaurant premises, the owners decided to expand their operations by introducing an outdoor catering unit.

Case Study: Shipping Container Ticket Office Case Studies
Case Study: Shipping Container Ticket Office

The local rugby club had been using a small, outdated ticket booth that no longer met their needs. The club’s management sought a more efficient and visually appealing solution that could accommodate their growing fan base.

Case Study: Chemical Store Shipping Container Conversion Case Studies
Case Study: Chemical Store Shipping Container Conversion

The client, an Industrial Chemical Storage Company specialising in chemical production and storage, faced the challenge of storing hazardous chemicals on their premises while adhering to stringent health and safety regulations.

Dropside Shipping Container Conversion Shipping
Dropside Shipping Container Conversion

Universal Containers take pride in continually pushing the boundaries in product development within the shipping container industry.

32ft × 10ft Stacked Cabins
32ft × 10ft Stacked Cabins

These 2 large 32x10ft cabins were built for a British transport company. They requested a large space to act as a welfare facility for drivers and staff in the peak district. Due to the customer’s specific requirements, one unit was not large enough so we suggested 2 units, however floor space was an issue on-siteContinue reading “32ft × 10ft Stacked Cabins”

32×10 Green Office Offices
32×10 Green Office

This particular office unit was completed for a North-West-based container hire company.

20×10 Gas Bottle Store
20×10 Gas Bottle Store

Custom Built Atex Coshh store for storing gas bottles. This unit was custom built with corrugated steel panels 20ft long x 10ft wide. It had a fully ventilated floor from galvanised steel mesh, as well as 4 aluminium louver vents in the walls. We also fitted galvanised box section racks with chains on to holdContinue reading “20×10 Gas Bottle Store”

Corrugated 32×10 Office / Store room
Corrugated 32×10 Office / Store room

Corrugated steel cabin 32ft x 10ft with adjustable jacklegs anti vandal steel personnel door and anti-vandal aluminium sliding windows in steel shutters. Painted externally in non-corrosive container paint in a vibrant red. Internally with walls where lined in a cost-effective melamine faced chipboard and fully insulated throughout in Rockwool. The floor had hard wearing vinylContinue reading “Corrugated 32×10 Office / Store room”

20ft Multi-Bay Unit
20ft Multi-Bay Unit

Standard shipping container transformed into a bespoke storage unit. With multiple purposes across many industries. For example, self-storage companies or engineering companies for members of staff to lock tools away when not in use. The unit was split evenly into 8 small rooms approximately 5ftx4ft each by steel partition walls for security. Each room withContinue reading “20ft Multi-Bay Unit”

Don’t just take our word for it

Find out why our customers love us and our products

Posted on Google
Stephen Edwards
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5
Stephen and the team at Universal Container Services Limited have been super efficient and very helpful, I would recommend this company to anyone thinking about purchasing a container for any multi-use purpose.
Posted on Google
Sales @ H and B Electrical
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5
Great service from start to Finish, Stephen Woolley was very thorough and professional. Thanks for all your help Stephen H&B Electrical Services
Posted on Google
David Wilden
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5
Very impressed with the quality of the containers and the facilities they have for insulating and boarding them. Many thanks to Stephen for spending time showing us around and helping us get a great deal.
Posted on Google
Mike Gathercole
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5
We have just purchased a fully insulated container from Universal we visited the site prior to our order Colin and Stephen both in the sales office we brilliant they answered all our questions and were very helpful in processing our order thanks again lads really appreciated
Posted on Google
Graham Sanderson
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5
Scarcroft and District Allotments Association in York have used two containers from Universal - one 20' unmodified new container as a store and one 40' new container insulated and supplied with electrics package and two secure windows and a secure accessible door as a shop- to replace their 50+ year-old wooden hut used as a shop and association base. Shaun McWilliams (project engineer) has been our main contact at Universal with oversight and support from Carl Jeffries (project manager). They have been hugely supportive through a long process. Nothing has been too much trouble for Shaun, adapting plans and offering choices at every stage - always friendly, imaginative and flexible. We'd recommend Universal without reservation for any project involving shipping containers.
Posted on Google
My AIMS Ltd Manchester
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5
We recently got in touch with Universal Containers Services as we were looking to stack two Containers Excellent service provided by universal containers. We dealt with Vanessa and her communication was excellent she kept us informed from point of order upto delivery. Delivery was fast and I would definitely recommend using this company.
Posted on Google
nick curtis
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5
Great and quick service.. Colin was really helpful and knowledgable
Posted on Google
zeshan s
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5
prompt service, Colin was very helpful
Posted on Google
David Heath
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5
Ordered a container for a Scout group, we are so pleased with the service and the container. Very helpful and nothing was a problem, arrived on time and looks amazing. We would definitely recommend and use again.
Posted on Google
Richard Banning
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5
We were impressed with the service provided by Stephen on our first order , we have purchased another 2 containers , the service and quality was very good and would recommend the company if you are looking to purchase.

Are you looking for Self Storage Manchester?

Self-storage facilities accessible 24/7

Our large self-storage facility is accessible all day, every day. Your contents will be stored on our gated, CCTV-monitored site in weatherproof and vandal-proof shipping containers fabricated from Corten steel. This is the perfect solution for businesses and individuals that want the reliability of a shipping container storage space but don’t have room on-site to store one.

We’re easy to access from major motorways

You’ll find our office and showroom easily from the M60 or M62, meaning we’re easily accessible from locations throughout the north west, Yorkshire, Scotland, and beyond. Whether you’re paying us a visit to discuss a new container conversion or coming to use our on-site storage container facilities, our team will be here to help.

Self-Storage
Self-Storage