Ashford scores 969 on the UK Local Growth Index, placing it 215th of 361 local authorities and 31 points below the UK benchmark. It sits 2 points above the Kent average and 34 points below the South East regional average. ESG is the only pillar where Ashford's companies score above the UK benchmark.
Each score is calculated as an average across the 8,877 active companies in the authority, with corporate groups counted once. That averaging means a smaller authority with highly active companies can outscore a larger one, making the index a fair comparison between authorities of very different sizes.
The UK benchmark is set at 1,000, so a score of 969 means Ashford's companies, on average, sit slightly below the national level across these measures. Every published score comes with a likely range showing how much it could move with a slightly different mix of companies; Ashford's composite range of 957 to 981 is narrow enough to rely on.
South East
Each dot shows the pillar score on a scale where the UK as a whole scores 1,000, marked by the line. The paler band is the likely range. The composite weights Innovation, Scaling and Investment 30% each and ESG 10%.
How Ashford's composite score of 969 is built up, pillar by pillar.
Innovation
967
Average nationally
800UK 1,0001,700+
−33 points against the UK · Likely range 950–984 · 30% of the composite
Innovation captures patents, academic spinouts, R&D grant value, innovative sector tags and IS-8 sector classification. Ashford ranks 203rd of 361 authorities on this pillar, scoring 967, which is 33 points below the UK benchmark, suggesting that companies here are somewhat less active on these innovation signals than the national average.
Tagged with any industry or buzzword on a curated list of innovative sectors, for example chips, biotechnology, quantum, AI, data, SaaS, FinTech and CleanTech. About 2.5% of companies.
Tagged with any of the eight IS-8 sectors: advanced manufacturing, clean energy, creative industries, digital and technologies, financial services, life sciences, professional and business services, and defence. About 18% of companies.
We publish a score for each pillar, not for the measures inside it. The percentage beside each measure is how much it counts towards the pillar score. Select the lock to see the companies behind a measure on the Beauhurst platform.
Scaling
985
Below average nationally
800UK 1,0001,700+
−15 points against the UK · Likely range 962–1,008 · 30% of the composite
Scaling measures whether companies meet the 20% scaleup threshold, their annualised headcount growth, and whether they have attended an accelerator. At 985, Ashford is 15 points below the UK benchmark and ranks 228th of 360 authorities, outperforming 36.7% of all authorities on this pillar.
Annualised three-year employee growth rate over the latest four years of accounts, including group accounts, for companies with five or more employees at the start (capped). All other companies count as zero.
We publish a score for each pillar, not for the measures inside it. The percentage beside each measure is how much it counts towards the pillar score. Select the lock to see the companies behind a measure on the Beauhurst platform.
Investment
943
Average nationally
800UK 1,0001,700+
−57 points against the UK · Likely range 917–969 · 30% of the composite
Investment covers equity raising activity over the last five years, the amounts raised and the share of companies doing so for the first time. Ashford's score of 943 is 57 points below the UK benchmark, though it still ranks 181st of 360 authorities and outperforms nearly half, at 49.7%, of all authorities on this measure.
Whether the company's first equity deal ever was in the last five years. A first-time raiser always counts as an equity raiser too.
We publish a score for each pillar, not for the measures inside it. The percentage beside each measure is how much it counts towards the pillar score. Select the lock to see the companies behind a measure on the Beauhurst platform.
ESG
1,010
Average nationally
800UK 1,0001,700+
+10 points against the UK · Likely range 991–1,029 · 10% of the composite
ESG reflects the presence of clean energy activity, other green activity, environmental accolades, social and governance signals, and a not-for-profit proxy. At 1,010, Ashford scores 10 points above the UK benchmark on this pillar, ranking 184th of 361 authorities and making ESG the area's strongest pillar relative to the national level.
Is limited by guarantee without share capital, a rough indicator of non-profit status.
We publish a score for each pillar, not for the measures inside it. The percentage beside each measure is how much it counts towards the pillar score. Select the lock to see the companies behind a measure on the Beauhurst platform.
Compared to Kent
The chart below places Ashford's composite score of 969 alongside its Kent neighbours, including runner-up Dover, which scores 1,023.
Ashford scores 969 on the UK Local Growth Index, placing it 215th of 361 local authorities. That puts it 31 points below the UK benchmark of 1,000.
How does Ashford compare to the rest of Kent?
Ashford ranks 7th of 13 authorities in Kent and sits 2 points above the county average of 967.
How does Ashford compare to the South East region?
Ashford ranks 47th of 64 authorities in the South East, scoring 34 points below the regional average of 1,003.
Which pillar does Ashford score highest on?
ESG is Ashford's strongest pillar relative to the UK benchmark, scoring 1,010, which is 10 points above the national level. It covers clean energy activity, other green activity, environmental accolades, social and governance signals, and a not-for-profit proxy.
What does the UK Local Growth Index actually measure?
The index measures the characteristics of a local authority's business economy across four pillars: Innovation, Scaling, Investment and ESG. It does not measure economic output or GDP; it reflects how active local companies are on each of those dimensions.
How reliable is Ashford's score?
The composite score has a likely range of 957 to 981, which is narrow enough to be published and relied upon. This range shows how much the score could shift with a slightly different mix of companies in the authority.
Explore the data behind the index
Every score on this page is built from real, named company activity, patent filings, fundraisings, spinouts and scaleups. Book a call to see the data behind any authority's score, and how Beauhurst can support your work.
