Corporate Housing in Barrow-in-Furness

Learn about the top employers in Barrow-in-Furness and their contributions to the local economy. This section highlights key businesses and organisations that play a significant role in the community and shape the city's vibrant economic landscape.

BAE Systems Maritime — Submarines
A major UK defence contractor whose Barrow shipyard designs, builds and maintains submarines (including the Astute and Dreadnought programmes). It is the town’s largest private employer and central to Barrow’s advanced marine and engineering skills base.

University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust (Furness General Hospital)
The local NHS trust operating Furness General Hospital in Barrow, providing acute hospital services, emergency care and a range of community health services. The trust is a major public-sector employer in the town.

Cumbria County Council
The county-level local authority responsible for services such as education, social care, highways and public protection across Cumbria. The council employs staff locally in administration, education support and social services.

Barrow Borough Council
The local municipal authority for Barrow-in-Furness, responsible for housing, planning, waste collection, leisure and local economic development. The council is a significant local employer for administrative and frontline services.

Tesco (Barrow stores)
A large national supermarket chain with one or more stores in Barrow, employing substantial numbers in retail, logistics and store management. Major supermarket branches (Tesco, and other national grocers present in the town) are important private-sector employers for local residents.

Note: Exact rankings and employee counts vary over time; local government, BAE and healthcare consistently rank among the largest employers in Barrow.

Explore the diverse transport options available in Barrow-in-Furness, from efficient public transportation systems to convenient road networks. Whether you're commuting to work or exploring the city, this section will give you an overall look at the available transportation systems.

Public Transit System
- Rail (Barrow-in-Furness station / Furness Line) - Regular regional rail services operate from Barrow-in-Furness station on the Furness Line; trains provide connections to Lancaster and the wider national rail network with onward links to Preston, Manchester and Carlisle via changes. Services are operated by Northern and are the principal rail link for commuters and intercity connections.
- Local buses - Bus services, primarily operated by regional companies, provide frequent local and interurban links across Barrow, Walney Island, surrounding villages and to nearby towns such as Ulverston and Dalton-in-Furness; routes serve shopping areas, schools, hospitals and rail connections.
- Coaches and long-distance buses - Interurban coach services and occasional longer-distance operators provide scheduled links to regional hubs and further afield (bookable services and timetables vary by operator and season).
- Taxis and private hire - A range of taxi companies and private-hire vehicles serve the town and surrounding area for on-demand local travel and airport transfers.
- Community transport and demand-responsive services - Volunteer-run and council-supported community transport schemes (dial‑a‑ride / social car schemes) help residents with limited mobility or without private cars reach services, medical appointments and shopping.

Major Highways
- A590 - Principal trunk road linking Barrow-in-Furness eastwards toward the M6 motorway and the wider road network (key route for commuting and freight).
- A595 - Main north–south route running along Cumbria’s west coast, providing access north toward Carlisle and local coastal communities.
- M6 - Major national motorway accessible via the A590 (provides north–south national connections, including to the North West and Scotland).
- A5087 / A590 (local trunk sections) - Key arterial and coastal routes within the borough and onto Walney Island that manage local traffic flow and connect residential, industrial and port areas.

Cycling Infrastructure
- Dedicated cycle and multi‑use paths - Barrow has a mix of on‑road cycle lanes, traffic‑calmed streets and off‑road shared-use paths (notably along parts of the coast and around Walney Island and the promenade). The network provides useful short-distance commuter and leisure routes but remains partial in coverage; active-travel investment has been happening to improve connectivity and signage.

Recent and Upcoming Improvements
- Rail and station accessibility upgrades - Recent works and ongoing maintenance on the Furness Line and station facilities have focused on reliability, platform/access improvements and passenger facilities; further timetable and infrastructure improvements have been part of regional rail planning.
- Bus service reviews and quality improvements - Local authorities and operators have implemented timetable revisions, vehicle upgrades and real‑time information improvements to enhance frequency, reliability and passenger experience on key routes.
- Active travel and walking/cycling schemes - Funding streams (including national Active Travel funding and local transport plans) have supported new and upgraded cycle paths, pedestrian improvements and safer crossings to encourage walking and cycling for short trips.
- Port, industrial and road access works - Investment related to Barrow Port, shipbuilding and industrial activity has driven improvements to freight access roads, junction upgrades and logistics capacity to support jobs and regional freight movements.
- Local transport planning and integration - Westmorland & Furness Council and local stakeholders have been advancing integrated transport strategies (bus/rail interchange, better information, community transport support) and seeking funding for targeted projects to improve connectivity to regional hubs such as the M6 and Manchester.

In Barrow-in-Furness, finding the right corporate housing can be challenging - especially within budget all year round. That is where we help companies, contracting consultants, professionals and business executives find the right place to stay when working away from home. Our properties offer the perfect serviced accommodation with a range of central and easy-access locations in Barrow-in-Furness. Whether it be one week, one month or one year - and one person or a full team, we have flexible housing options to suit you.