Corporate Housing in Ely

Learn about the top employers in Ely 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.

British Sugar (Ely)
A national sugar processing company that operates a sugar beet factory and associated facilities in the Ely area, producing refined sugar for retail and industrial customers across the UK. The site is a long-established local employer linked to agricultural supply chains in East Anglia.

East Cambridgeshire District Council
The local government authority based in Ely providing planning, housing, environmental health, leisure and other council services to residents and businesses across the district. As the district council HQ, it is a significant public-sector employer in the city.

NHS (Ely Community Hospital and local NHS services)
NHS services operating in Ely — including Ely Community Hospital and community healthcare teams — provide inpatient, outpatient and community care. The health and social care sector is one of the largest employers locally through clinical, administrative and support roles.

Ely Cathedral
A major historic and cultural institution that attracts tourists, holds religious services and runs educational and community programmes. The cathedral and its visitor operations (museum, events, gift shop, guided tours) make it a key local employer in heritage and tourism.

Ely College
The city’s secondary school and sixth-form college, providing education for local pupils and offering a range of vocational and academic programmes. The college employs teaching, support and administrative staff and is an important employer in the education sector.

Note: “Top” employers can vary by measure (staff numbers, payroll or footprint); for exact rankings and employee counts you may want to consult local economic reports or the organisations’ published data.

Explore the diverse transport options available in Ely, 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 (Ely railway station) - Ely is an important railway junction with frequent regional and inter‑regional services providing direct and connecting trains to Cambridge, King's Lynn, Peterborough, Norwich and onward connections to London and other national destinations; services are operated by the main regional rail providers and the station offers ticketing facilities and passenger information.
- Local and Regional Buses - Bus services (operated by Stagecoach East and smaller local operators) link Ely with Cambridge, Newmarket, March, Chatteris and surrounding villages, providing commuter and local travel options with weekday and Saturday frequencies and reduced Sunday services.
- Intercity/Coach Services - Limited scheduled coach services and onward connections via nearby larger towns provide longer‑distance coach options; many passengers use rail for mainline intercity travel.
- Taxis and Ride‑hailing - Local taxi companies and app‑based ride services operate from ranks near the station and around the city for first/last mile travel and on‑demand trips.
- Station parking and drop‑off - Long‑stay and short‑stay car parks and a station forecourt offer park‑and‑ride style access to trains (no formal city park‑and‑ride scheme), plus facilities for passenger drop‑off and pick‑up.

Major Highways
- A10 - Major north–south route linking Ely with Cambridge to the south and routes toward London beyond Cambridge.
- A142 - East–west route connecting Ely with Newmarket and other Fenland towns, providing local and regional access.
- A1123 / A1016 (local arterial routes) - Important local A/B roads linking Ely with nearby towns and villages and providing access to surrounding rural districts.
- Access to A14 and A47 corridors - Easy onward access to the A14 (east–west corridor via Cambridge toward Ipswich/Felixstowe and the Midlands) and the A47 (toward Norwich and the Midlands) via short links from Ely, improving connections for longer road journeys.

Cycling Infrastructure
- Cycling network and bike lanes - Ely is very cycle‑friendly: the city is flat and served by a mix of signed on‑road cycle lanes, shared‑use paths, traffic‑calmed streets in the centre, and National Cycle Network Route 11 running through the area; the station provides cycle parking/secure stands and local authorities have been improving cycle links to schools, the station and key destinations.

Recent and Upcoming Improvements
- Rail capacity and station enhancements - Recent Network Rail and operator works in the Ely area have focused on reducing rail bottlenecks, improving signalling and platform/access improvements at the station to increase reliability and capacity for passenger and freight services.
- Local active travel and bus improvements - Cambridgeshire County Council and local partners have funded walking and cycling improvements and targeted bus service enhancements to support commuting and sustainable travel.
- Station accessibility and passenger facilities - Ongoing upgrades (platform works, improved waiting facilities and better CCTV/lighting) have been implemented or planned to improve passenger experience and accessibility.
- Regional transport programmes affecting Ely - Broader regional projects (timetable/service upgrades, rolling stock renewals and strategic schemes in the Cambridge sub‑region) are expected to further improve Ely’s connectivity over the coming years and may bring additional service frequency or infrastructure changes that benefit commuting and longer‑distance travel.