-
Cleveland Named as Finalists at the Hire Awards of Excellence 2026
We’re proud to be shortlisted for two awards at the Hire Awards of Excellence, recognising our commitment to safety, innovation and excellence in the hire industry.
This year, Cleveland Group has been named a finalist in two categories at the awards: SafeHire Plant, Tool & Equipment Company of the Year (Turnover Over £10 Million) and Health & Safety Champions.
The Hire Awards of Excellence will be held at the Grosvenor House, London, on Saturday 18th April 2026. These nominations highlight the outstanding work across our business, from the continued growth of our container, hire and modular divisions to the exceptional efforts of our Health, Safety, Environment and Quality (SHEQ) team in building a proactive safety culture.
Driving Excellence Across Our Hire and Modular Divisions
Cleveland has evolved from the small family-run container business ‘Cleveland Containers’ into a rapidly expanding national group delivering containers, site accommodation and modular turnkey solutions.
Our Cleveland Hire division provides one of the newest core hire fleets in the UK, featuring EPC ‘B’ rated and JCoP fire-compliant accommodation units, for energy efficiency, safety and reliability. Continued investment in containers, anti-vandal accommodation, accessories and UK-manufactured equipment helped expand our hire fleet by 60% in 2025, enabling us to meet growing customer demand nationwide.
Meanwhile, Cleveland Modular has quickly become the UK’s largest importer of Containex modular buildings, delivering high-specification EPC ‘A’ rated modular solutions for major infrastructure projects across the UK.
With ongoing investment in infrastructure, technology and people - including new depots and the launch of a new CRM system - Cleveland continues to strengthen its position as a leader in containers, site accommodation and modular solutions.
Recognising Our Health & Safety Champions
The exceptional work of Paul Kell, SHEQ Director, and Lias Rhatigan, SHEQ Administrator, has been widely recognised, with Cleveland’s SHEQ team shortlisted for the Health & Safety Champions award.
Over the past year, the team has led a major cultural shift across the organisation by introducing a more proactive approach to health and safety. By simplifying how Safety, Health, and Environmental (SHE) observations are reported and encouraging both positive and negative feedback, they have helped embed a culture focused on learning, prevention, and continuous improvement.
Despite significant business growth - including a 25% expansion in depot locations and a 15% increase in workforce - Cleveland has continued to reduce accident and incident levels year-on-year, showing that safety standards are strengthening alongside business growth.
The SHEQ team is also driving a broader cultural shift across the Group through the introduction of Human and Organisational Performance (HOP) principles. This approach is already changing how incidents, behaviours, and systems are understood across the business - not just in health and safety.
It’s fantastic to see Cleveland recognised for its work in health and safety. This nomination reflects a year of real progress, collaboration, and transformational cultural change across the business. By creating a proactive safety culture built on Human and Organisational Performance (HOP) principles, we’ve helped Cleveland view health and safety not just as a way to keep people safe, but as an opportunity for learning and continuous improvement. I’m incredibly proud of what our SHEQ team and all Cleveland employees have achieved together.
Paul Kell, SHEQ Director at Cleveland Group
The Awards
The winners will be announced at the Hire Awards of Excellence 2026, taking place on Saturday 18th April. The evening will be hosted by comedian and after-dinner speaker Adger Brown, who brings more than four decades of experience entertaining audiences across the UK.
Being recognised as finalists in two categories is a fantastic achievement for Cleveland and reflects the dedication, expertise and hard work of our entire team.
We look forward to joining our peers from across the industry in April and celebrating another outstanding year for the hire sector.
Cleveland Selects Teesside Hospice as Charity of the Year 2026
Cleveland Group is proud to support Teesside Hospice, helping local people and families access vital care and community services throughout 2026.
Cleveland Opens Newport Depot
Cleveland Group has continued its rapid national expansion with the opening of a new 5-acre depot at the port of Newport in South Wales - the largest site in the company’s history.
Cleveland Group Unveils ‘Own Your Space’
Cleveland Group has unveiled a bold new look and positioning as part of a major brand refresh, uniting its divisions - Cleveland Containers, Cleveland Hire, and Cleveland Modular - under one cohesive identity.