Corporate Housing in Dorset

Learn about the top employers in Dorset 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.

BCP Council (Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council)
The unitary local authority for the conurbation of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, responsible for a wide range of public services including education, social care, planning, housing and waste collection. As the local government body for the area it is one of the largest employers in the region.

Dorset Council
The unitary authority covering the rest of Dorset (outside BCP), delivering county-wide services such as adult social care, children’s services, highways, planning and environmental health. Dorset Council is a major public-sector employer across the county.

University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust
The acute NHS trust that runs the main hospital services in the area (including Poole Hospital and the Royal Bournemouth Hospital), providing emergency, surgical and specialist healthcare to Dorset residents. It is one of the county’s largest health-sector employers.

University of Bournemouth
A major higher-education institution based in Bournemouth, offering a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses and research activities across areas such as media, business, science and the arts. The university is a significant local employer and contributor to the regional economy.

Bourne Leisure
A Poole-headquartered holiday and leisure company that owns and operates well-known UK brands including Haven, Butlin’s and Warner Leisure Hotels, running holiday parks, resorts and hospitality services. Bourne Leisure is a leading private-sector employer in Dorset’s tourism and leisure sector.

Explore the diverse transport options available in Dorset, 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
- Local bus network - Extensive daytime and evening services linking towns and villages across Dorset (Bournemouth, Poole, Weymouth, Dorchester, Blandford, Wimborne, Bridport, etc.); services operated by several companies with frequent coastal and urban routes and less frequent rural services.
- Interurban and regional coaches - National Express and other coach operators provide longer-distance links (e.g., to London, Bristol, the Midlands) and airport connections from key towns.
- Rail services - Regular rail links on the South Western Main Line (Bournemouth/Poole/Weymouth to London Waterloo), the Heart of Wessex Line (Weymouth–Bristol), and other regional routes, served mainly by South Western Railway and Great Western Railway; stations at Bournemouth, Poole, Weymouth, Dorchester (West & South/East), Wareham, Sherborne, Gillingham (Dorset) and others.
- Park & Ride and town shuttles - Park-and-ride sites and frequent shuttle services in and around Bournemouth/Poole (reducing town-centre car traffic) plus seasonal town shuttles in seaside resorts.
- Ferry and harbour services - Passenger and tourist boat services in Poole and Weymouth and the vehicle Sandbanks–Studland chain ferry across Poole Harbour; seasonal leisure crossings to islands and coastal attractions.
- Community transport and demand-responsive services - Volunteer car schemes, dial‑a‑ride, community minibuses and local on‑demand services (run by councils and charities) serving rural and low‑demand areas.
- Taxis, private hire and ride‑hail - Wide availability of licensed taxis and private-hire vehicles in urban areas, plus app-based ride-hailing in larger towns.
- Freight and logistics links - Road and rail freight connections serving industrial zones and ports (Poole Harbour and local freight terminals) supporting commercial transport across the region.

Major Highways
- A35 - Principal east–west trunk road along the south coast linking Honiton/Devon, Bridport, Dorchester and into the New Forest/Hampshire.
- A31 - Coastal corridor linking Wimborne/Bournemouth/Poole area westwards toward Ringwood and the M27/M3 network.
- A338 - Key north–south route from Bournemouth/Poole through Blandford Forum to Salisbury/M27 connections.
- A350 - Northbound trunk link from Poole/Bournemouth area toward Blandford, connecting with routes to the M4/M5 corridors further north.
- A354 - Connects Weymouth and Dorchester with the A303/A36 corridor toward Salisbury and the south-west.
- A37 - Connects Dorchester area northwards toward Yeovil and links into the A303/A303 corridor.
- M27 / M3 access - Motorway access via the M27 and M3 (into Hampshire and London routes) reachable from eastern Dorset via the A31/A338 corridors.

Cycling Infrastructure
- Cycling routes and lanes - Dorset hosts a mix of facilities: National Cycle Network routes (including NCN Route 2 along the coast), dedicated traffic‑free trails converted from former railbeds (eg. Castleman Trailway and other local greenways), segregated promenade and urban cycle lanes in Bournemouth and Poole, signed rural cycle routes through Purbeck and West Dorset, public bike‑hire schemes in larger towns, and ongoing local active‑travel schemes to improve links and commuting by bike.

Recent and Upcoming Improvements
- Bus fleet upgrades and low‑emission vehicles - Operators and councils have been introducing low‑emission/electric buses and replacing older vehicles to cut emissions and improve reliability on core routes.
- Active travel and cycle improvements - Investment via national Active Travel funds, local transport plans and Levelling‑Up/UKSPF funding to extend segregated cycle lanes, improve junction safety for cyclists/pedestrians and upgrade town centre walking routes.
- Rail station accessibility and passenger facilities - Programmes of station enhancements (step‑free access, better shelters, real‑time information and improved car‑park/PR sites) funded by national Access for All and operator/local schemes.
- Road safety, junction and capacity works - Targeted junction improvements, safety schemes and resurfacing on busy corridors (A35, A31, A350 and other accident‑reduction projects) to tackle congestion and collision hotspots.
- Poole harbour and crossing projects - Ongoing maintenance and upgrades to harbour crossing infrastructure (Twin Sails/Poole Bridge maintenance and Sandbanks–Studland ferry operational improvements) to secure resilience of key links.
- Improved coach and airport connectivity - Enhanced coach services and better public‑transport links to Bournemouth Airport and regional airports, alongside improved interchange facilities at major towns.
- Digital and passenger information upgrades - Rollout of improved real‑time passenger information, mobile ticketing and journey‑planning tools to make multi‑modal travel across Dorset easier.

In Dorset, 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 Dorset. 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.