Boston ranks 361st of 361 local authorities in the UK Local Growth Index, with a composite score of 918, placing it 82 points below the UK benchmark. All four pillars sit below the national benchmark, with Investment the furthest behind and ESG the closest to it. Within Lincolnshire, Boston ranks 9th of 9 authorities, scoring 37 points below the county average.
Boston's composite score of 918 is built from four pillars: Innovation, Scaling, Investment and ESG, weighted at 30%, 30%, 30% and 10% respectively.
The index measures the characteristics of a local authority's business economy by averaging scores across its active companies, with corporate groups counted once. That averaging means a smaller authority like Boston can be compared fairly with larger ones, because the score reflects how active local companies are rather than how large the local economy is.
The UK as a whole scores 1,000, so Boston's score of 918 sits 82 points below that benchmark across its 2,864 active companies. The likely range of 898 to 938 shows how much the score could shift with a slightly different mix of companies, and a score is only published when that range is narrow enough to rely on.
East Midlands
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 Boston's composite score of 918 is built up, pillar by pillar.
Innovation
911
Well below average nationally
800UK 1,0001,700+
−89 points against the UK · Likely range 881–941 · 30% of the composite
Innovation covers patents, academic spinouts, R&D grant value, innovative sector tagging and IS-8 sector classification. Boston ranks 353rd of 361 authorities on this pillar, scoring 911, which is 89 points below the UK benchmark, indicating that its companies show relatively limited activity across these innovation measures.
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
932
Well below average nationally
800UK 1,0001,700+
−68 points against the UK · Likely range 888–976 · 30% of the composite
Scaling measures whether companies are scaleups, their headcount growth over a recent three-year period, and accelerator attendance. Boston ranks 355th of 360 authorities here, with a score of 932, sitting 68 points below the UK benchmark and outperforming only 1.4% of authorities, pointing to limited employment expansion among local companies.
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
899
Well below average nationally
800UK 1,0001,700+
−101 points against the UK · Likely range 861–937 · 30% of the composite
Investment covers equity raisers, the value of equity raised and first-time raisers, all within the last five years. At 899, Boston's Investment score is 101 points below the UK benchmark, its furthest from the national average of any pillar, and it ranks 352nd of 360 authorities, reflecting low levels of equity activity among its companies.
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
956
Well below average nationally
800UK 1,0001,700+
−44 points against the UK · Likely range 926–986 · 10% of the composite
ESG captures clean energy activity, other green activity, environmental accolades, social and governance signals, and not-for-profit proxy status. Boston's ESG score of 956 is 44 points below the UK benchmark but represents its strongest pillar, ranking 319th of 361 authorities and outperforming 11.6% of all authorities.
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 Lincolnshire
The chart below compares Boston's composite score with neighbouring authorities across Lincolnshire and the East Midlands region.
What is Boston's overall score in the UK Local Growth Index?
Boston has a composite score of 918, which is 82 points below the UK benchmark of 1,000. It ranks 361st of 361 local authorities nationally.
How does Boston compare with the rest of Lincolnshire?
Boston ranks 9th of 9 authorities within Lincolnshire, scoring 37 points below the county average of 955.
Which pillar is Boston's strongest?
ESG is Boston's strongest pillar, with a score of 956, ranking 319th of 361 authorities and sitting 44 points below the UK benchmark.
Where does Boston rank on Investment?
Boston ranks 352nd of 360 authorities on Investment, with a score of 899, making it 101 points below the UK benchmark and its weakest pillar.
How many active companies are counted in Boston's score?
The score covers 2,864 active companies, with corporate groups counted once rather than as separate registered entities.
What does the likely range mean for Boston's score?
The likely range of 898 to 938 indicates how much Boston's composite score could shift with a slightly different mix of companies. The score is published because that range is narrow enough to rely on.
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.
