RAAC in schools & the shipping containers solution

Jane on September 4, 2023

RAAC has been a big issue in the national news. Many municipal buildings in England were built with RAAC (reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete), and it has become apparent that using this type of concrete may affect the safety and longevity of buildings.

The problem – RAAC in schools

Days before the school year started, many schools told parents that their children couldn’t begin the term as planned. There are serious concerns about the risk of collapse, so some schools in England have delayed the start of term.

Shipping containers solutions

Shipping container classrooms

We have converted shipping containers into comfortable, engaging learning spaces for schools for a number of years. Our classrooms are comfortable year-round and can be easily placed wherever is most convenient for your school.

shipping container classrooms
Shipping Container Classroom
shipping container classroom inside
Inside a converted classroom

Storage

We have a large stock of shipping containers that can be delivered and installed at schools. A standard shipping container is perfect for storage. Containers are strong, secure and simple to purchase (or hire).

Has the Department for Education, or local government informed you that you must empty your school buildings but you have nowhere to store all your furniture? A standard shipping container, available to rent, or to buy is the answer to your storage problems.

20ft new Shipping container
New 20ft shipping container

Office conversions

If your school’s administrative offices are now off-limits, our shipping container offices could be a solution for you.

A wide range of sites use our converted offices, which are perfectly suited to any administrative need. They are also secure and comfortable.

portable office, portable space, office,
Shipping Container Office

We can offer the following:

  • 20ft and 40ft containers for secure site storage for sale or hire
  • Portable 20ft office units
  • Temporary 20ft and 40ft site classrooms
  • Delivery to your door

We have made the purchase or hire of shipping containers and conversions very simple.

If your school has RAAC issues, call us on 0800 121 7388 or contact us using the form below to learn how we can assist. A converted shipping container classroom or office could be the answer to minimising disruption of RAAC in schools.

Contact us

Self Storage

Jane on February 23, 2017

Self-storage businesses are popping up in many places around the UK. It is a growing industry in the UK and has been since the 1980s. Many self-store businesses actually use shipping containers. The containers act like rooms for each customer. They are lockable and secure. They can be placed side by side and stacked at least 2 high.

Stacks of 20ft containers, self storage site, self store

Many customers of self-storage sites want to keep their possessions safe but just don’t have anywhere to store them. Customers include retailers, wholesalers, private individuals, construction firms and many, many more.

The farming community, in particular, are diversifying into self-storage, because they have the land already with great access for their customers.

The average occupancy of self-storage units has grown by 4% to 73% and income per sq ft has grown by over 5% to £22.15 in 2016, according to the Self Storage Association UK (SSA UK).

It is difficult to calculate accurately the number of self-storage businesses trading as there is no organisation that actually tracks the self-storage industry around the UK. The SSA UK estimates that there are now around 1077 self-store sites in the UK, of which 195 offer container storage only.

We at Billie Box offer shipping containers that will suit a self-storage business perfectly. We always recommend new (one trip from China) containers as they are usually clean and tidy. Self-storage customers want to store in a nice tidy space. All our new containers are fitted with a lock box and padlocks on a master suite basis are available for sale.

2016 Statistics from SSA UK make very interesting reading

Self storage association UK

How to set up a Self Storage business

  1. Find the land
  2. Apply for planning permission
  3. Make the land levelled and accessible
  4. Put up a fence and maybe a swipe card system for added security.
  5. Start marketing your self-storage business. Get your customers lined up to rent the space.
  6. Buy shipping containers from Billie Box to place on site. Often our customers start with 10 x 20ft units and then build onto the site with more as and when the first ones are full.
  7. Rent the containers out to your customers.
  8. Before you know it, your site will be full of customers and you will be receiving a nice tidy income.
  9. Remember you can stack 2 high. Staircases and walkways would be required for access.

So in conclusion, call us today on 0800 121 7388 or get a quote to see how Billie Box can help you to start up your self-storage business.

About Jane Billing
Jane Billing has over 30 years’ experience in shipping container supply. During that time Jane has gained a very broad knowledge of the whole shipping container industry. From construction to shipping, to adaption and conversions, if you have a question about any aspect of the shipping container industry Jane will likely have the answer for you. After many years working for some of the biggest names in the shipping container industry Jane set up her own company, Billie Box Ltd, in 2012. Since launching, Billie Box Ltd has sold well over 1500 new and used containers.

Comodo SSL