East Cambridgeshire District Council

Welcome to Business Information in East Cambridgeshire

These business pages provide information on economic policy, funding sources and contacts for existing and prospective businesses, as well as some general information on East Cambridgeshire as a place to live and work.

Top Tasks:

• Business Advice
• Commercial Property
• E-Space Business Centres
• Facts & Figures
• Finance & Funding
• Invest in East Cambs

Other business-related items that may be of interest:

• Building control
• Business Rates
• Business Waste Collections
• Planning
• Licensing, Permits and Registration
• Markets
• Health and safety
• Food Businesses
• How to trade with the Council
• Supporting Migrant Workers

East Cambridgeshire

The economic changes in the sub-region stimulated by the expansion of Cambridge have had a profound effect on the district of East Cambridgeshire. Once an agricultural focused area famous for the cathedral at Ely and the fen landscapes, the district is now a favoured choice as a prominent business location in its own right.

Ely is at the heart of the significant growth in the local economy, providing an affordable and accessible location for business with access to a skilled workforce. The City of Ely is currently one of the fastest growing cities in Europe with the population forecast to reach over 27,000 by 2031. This is opening up new opportunities for businesses moving to the district and expanding markets for those that are already here.

The district now boasts an impressive and growing cluster of high-tech businesses complementing the existing range of agricultural, manufacturing and distribution companies already well established in the area.

Companies who have located in the district cite the advantages of a quality working environment. East Cambridgeshire was recently rated 6th, scoring 87.7 out of 100 in a MORI survey on the best places to live in England. The district is also within close proximity to both Cambridge and London. Cambridge is just 16 miles away from the centre of Ely whilst London Kings Cross can be reached by train within the hour.

There are a number of business parks in East Cambridgeshire, catering for an excellent mix of modern, light manufacturing, R & D and office premises. The Cambridge Business Park on the Ely southern link road has played a major role in attracting high-tech investment into the area whilst parks at Witchford and Sutton provide plentiful land for more traditional businesses.

In a bid to harness the entrepreneurial growth emanating from Cambridge, two 'e-space' business centres were opened in Ely and Littleport in Autumn 2001 offering serviced office space. These centres have captured a number of small and medium sized businesses and have inspired local start-up businesses with flexible easy-in easy-out terms and access to business support. These services have been extended with the opening of the Ely Business Hub that provides free advice and support to anyone thinking of starting a business.

The Business Development Team of East Cambs District Council provides a number of services to local businesses. If you would like to contact the Business Development Team please email business@eastcambs.gov.uk or you can telephone: (01353) 665555.