Carmarthenshire scores 973 on the Local Growth Index, placing it 198th of 361 UK local authorities and 27 points below the UK benchmark. Its strongest pillar is ESG, where it ranks 38th nationally. Equity investment is the area where its companies are furthest behind the UK average.
Each score is averaged across active companies in the authority, with corporate groups counted once. That means a smaller authority with highly active companies can score above a larger one, making this a fair comparison between authorities of very different sizes.
The UK as a whole scores 1,000, so Carmarthenshire's 973 places it a little below that national benchmark. The likely range of 959 to 987 shows how much the score could move with a slightly different mix of companies, and a score is only published when that range is narrow enough to rely on.
Wales
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 Carmarthenshire's composite score of 973 is built up, pillar by pillar.
Innovation
977
Average nationally
800UK 1,0001,700+
−23 points against the UK · Likely range 955–999 · 30% of the composite
Innovation captures patents, academic spinouts, R&D grant value, innovative sector tags and IS-8 sector classification. Carmarthenshire scores 977 on this pillar, 23 points below the UK benchmark, ranking 163rd of 361 authorities and placing it in the top half nationally. Its companies are broadly in line with the UK average on the characteristics that drive this score.
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
982
Below average nationally
800UK 1,0001,700+
−18 points against the UK · Likely range 955–1,009 · 30% of the composite
Scaling measures whether companies are scaleups, their headcount growth rate and accelerator participation. At 982, Carmarthenshire sits 18 points below the UK benchmark and ranks 244th of 360 authorities. Its companies are adding staff at a rate modestly behind the national average.
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
917
Well below average nationally
800UK 1,0001,700+
−83 points against the UK · Likely range 892–942 · 30% of the composite
Investment covers equity raisers, the value of equity raised and first-time raisers over the last five years. Carmarthenshire's score of 917 is 83 points below the UK benchmark, ranking 297th of 360 authorities, and is the area where local companies trail the UK most noticeably. Only 17.5% of authorities score lower on this pillar.
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
1,099
Well above average nationally
800UK 1,0001,700+
+99 points against the UK · Likely range 1,073–1,125 · 10% of the composite
ESG reflects clean energy activity, other green activity, environmental accolades, social and governance signals, and not-for-profit status. Carmarthenshire's score of 1,099 is 99 points above the UK benchmark, ranking 38th of 361 authorities and outperforming 89.5% of all UK local authorities. This is a clear area of relative strength for the authority's companies.
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 Wales
The chart below compares Carmarthenshire's composite score of 973 against its neighbours across Wales.
What is Carmarthenshire's Local Growth Index score?
Carmarthenshire scores 973 on the Local Growth Index, placing it 198th of 361 UK local authorities and 27 points below the UK benchmark of 1,000.
How does Carmarthenshire compare to the rest of Wales?
Carmarthenshire ranks 15th of 22 Welsh authorities, scoring 23 points below the Wales average of 996. Cardiff is the top-ranked Welsh authority, scoring 1,047.
What is Carmarthenshire's strongest pillar on the Local Growth Index?
ESG is Carmarthenshire's strongest pillar, with a score of 1,099, which is 99 points above the UK benchmark and places it 38th of 361 authorities nationally.
Where does Carmarthenshire underperform on the Local Growth Index?
Investment is the weakest pillar, scoring 917, which is 83 points below the UK benchmark. Carmarthenshire ranks 297th of 360 authorities on this measure, with equity-raising activity among its companies well below the national average.
How many companies are counted in Carmarthenshire's score?
The score covers 7,125 active companies in Carmarthenshire, with corporate groups counted once rather than as separate registered entities.
What does the Local Growth Index actually measure?
It measures the characteristics of a local authority's business economy across four pillars: Innovation, Scaling, Investment and ESG. It is not a measure of economic output or GDP, but of how active local companies are on indicators such as patenting, headcount growth, equity raising and environmental and social signals.
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.
