THE people for shipping Containers.
THE people for Container Self Storage
01740 62 99 99
THE people for shipping Containers.
THE people for Container Self Storage
01740 62 99 99
The Parsons Containers Group is celebrating 25 years in business by launching a major redevelopment of its key site on the A66 in Darlington, reinforcing the depot’s role as the operational heart of the company and preparing the business for its next phase of growth.
The County Durham-based group was founded in 2000 by entrepreneur Ean Parsons, who identified an opportunity in the container market and began trading from modest beginnings. In its first year, the business achieved £250,000 in sales, and quickly expanded with the launch of its self-storage brand, U Hold The Key, initially placing a small number of containers in Sedgefield as a local experiment.
Over the following 25 years, that experiment has developed into a multi-site operation. Today, U Hold The Key runs 11 self-storage sites across the North East, including:
Alongside self-storage, the group has built a strong presence in container sales, hire and conversions, serving customers locally and across the UK. The Parsons Containers Group now employs 23 people, many of whom have been part of the team for well over a decade, contributing to the company’s continuity, culture and long-term success.
The business has successfully navigated challenging periods – including the 2007 credit crisis and the Covid-19 pandemic – by staying focused on customer service, steady investment and careful growth.
The A66 Darlington depot was acquired in 2016 with a clear strategic purpose: to bring together container sales, self-storage and operational activity on one site with strong transport links.
Initially a combined sales and U Hold The Key self-storage site, the depot has been developed step-by-step. A key milestone came in 2020, when the container sales office moved from the group’s historic HQ at the Grade II* listed Manor House in Sedgefield to the A66 site. The depot is now home to the group’s sales, logistics and operations teams, and has become the main hub for day-to-day activity.
Customers, partners and suppliers can visit the site to explore a wide range of containers, discuss conversion projects and see how the group operates on the ground.
To mark the 25th anniversary – and to make sure the business is ready for future demand – Parsons Containers Group is embarking on a major redevelopment programme at the A66 hub.
Led by Group CEO Ean Parsons, Managing Director Helen Parsons and Operations Manager Dean Tempest, the project will:
Work on the redevelopment is due to start later this month.
Ean Parsons, Group CEO, said:
“The redevelopment of the A66 site is about building a platform for the future. We’re extremely proud of what we’ve achieved over the last 25 years, but our focus is firmly on what comes next. This investment will allow us to support more customers, operate more efficiently and continue our growth across the region and beyond.”
Helen Parsons, Managing Director, added:
“People want to feel confident when choosing a container, and being able to visit the A66 site to see what they are purchasing first-hand gives them the reassurance and guidance they need and has become central to our customer offering. This next stage of development will strengthen that experience and reflect the scale of where the business is now.”
To recognise 25 years of Parsons Containers Group and 25 years of U Hold The Key, the company will be hosting a series of events over the coming year. The celebrations have already begun with a special gathering at the Manor House in Sedgefield, bringing together staff, customers, partners and friends.
The redevelopment of the A66 Darlington hub will be a key theme throughout the anniversary year – a clear sign that the group is not only celebrating its past, but actively investing in the future.
As the project progresses, the Parsons Containers Group will continue to focus on:
