Lock Stock Self Storage, one of the biggest container storage companies in the UK, has been praised by Welsh economy secretary Ken Skates, who said the company’s facilities are helping start-up businesses to become more prosperous in the future.

He explained that Lock Stock gives new firms low cost introductions to various storage options and with 17 strategic sites to choose from and more to come in the near future, embryo businesses are offered greater support – and flexible options for storage.

Lock Stock has proposed setting start-ups in converted shipping containers in both Cardiff and Swansea, with co-founder of the business Nick Powell saying that containers are actually perfect because new companies need somewhere affordable to hold stock. They may also not want to over commit financially at first.

“They can go ahead and launch without the worry about whether it’s going to work. Our units are ideal starting points for small and emerging businesses, or traders working from home, that cannot, or do not want to take the commitment that comes with taking on an industrial unit.

“Containers are versatile and flexible and there are no business rates or service charges and with three different sizes of units they’re ideal whether people are looking to grow or to downsize,” Mr Powell went on to note.

Lock Stock Self Storage currently has 17 storage parks across North and mid-Wales, while the border counties of Cheshire and Shropshire play host to nearly 1,000 small businesses. More than 200 of these can be found at the storage firm’s biggest park at Tre Marl Industrial Estate.