Cheshire West and Chester scores 988 on the UK Local Growth Index, placing it 136th of 361 local authorities and 12 points below the UK benchmark of 1,000. Its strongest result is on Scaling, where it sits in the top third of all authorities. Investment is the area where it trails the UK average most notably.
Each pillar score is an average across those companies, so it reflects how active local businesses are on each dimension rather than the sheer size of the local economy. That makes it a fair comparison between authorities with very different numbers of companies.
The UK benchmark is set at 1,000, so Cheshire West and Chester's composite of 988 sits just below the national average. The likely range of 978 to 998 shows how much the score could shift with a slightly different mix of companies; a score is only published when that range is narrow enough to rely on.
North West
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 Cheshire West and Chester's composite score of 988 is built up, pillar by pillar.
Innovation
984
Above average nationally
800UK 1,0001,700+
−16 points against the UK · Likely range 971–997 · 30% of the composite
Innovation captures patents, academic spinout status, R&D grant value, innovative sector tags and IS-8 sector classification. Cheshire West and Chester scores 984 on this pillar, 16 points below the UK benchmark, ranking 141st of 361 authorities. That places it in the top half nationally but suggests companies here are somewhat less active on innovation signals than the UK 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
1,015
Above average nationally
800UK 1,0001,700+
+15 points against the UK · Likely range 997–1,033 · 30% of the composite
Scaling measures whether companies are 20% scaleups, their annualised three-year headcount growth, and whether they have attended an accelerator. At 1,015, this is the authority's strongest pillar, sitting 15 points above the UK benchmark and ranking 94th of 360 authorities. Cheshire West and Chester outperforms nearly three quarters of all authorities on this measure, pointing to a business base that is adding staff at a noticeably faster rate than the national norm.
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
956
Above average nationally
800UK 1,0001,700+
−44 points against the UK · Likely range 937–975 · 30% of the composite
Investment covers whether companies raised equity in the last five years, the amount raised, and whether a raise was a first-ever equity deal. A score of 956 places Cheshire West and Chester 44 points below the UK benchmark, ranking 137th of 360 authorities. This is the widest gap to the national average across the four pillars, indicating that companies here are less active in equity markets than is typical across the UK.
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
1,017
Average nationally
800UK 1,0001,700+
+17 points against the UK · Likely range 1,003–1,031 · 10% of the composite
ESG reflects clean energy activity, other green activity, environmental accolades, social and governance signals, and not-for-profit proxy status. Cheshire West and Chester scores 1,017, placing it 17 points above the UK benchmark and ranking 162nd of 361 authorities. Companies here outperform just over half of all authorities on this pillar, a modest positive margin against the national average.
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 Cheshire
The chart below shows how Cheshire West and Chester's composite score of 988 compares with its neighbours across Cheshire.
What is Cheshire West and Chester's UK Local Growth Index score?
Cheshire West and Chester scores 988, placing it 136th of 361 local authorities and 12 points below the UK benchmark of 1,000.
How does Cheshire West and Chester compare to the rest of the North West?
It ranks 6th of 35 authorities in the North West and sits 15 points above the regional score of 973.
Which pillar is Cheshire West and Chester strongest on?
Scaling is its strongest pillar, with a score of 1,015 that ranks 94th of 360 authorities and sits 15 points above the UK benchmark.
Where does Cheshire West and Chester rank within Cheshire?
It ranks 3rd of 4 authorities in Cheshire, scoring 10 points below the county score of 998.
How does the UK Local Growth Index score for Cheshire West and Chester compare to the UK average?
The composite score of 988 is 12 points below the UK benchmark of 1,000. Investment shows the largest gap, at 44 points below the national average, while Scaling and ESG both exceed it.
How many companies are included in Cheshire West and Chester's score?
The score is based on 18,748 active companies, with corporate groups counted once rather than as separate registered entities.
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.
