Cotswold ranks 47th of 361 local authorities in the UK Local Growth Index, scoring 23 points above the UK benchmark. All four pillars sit above the benchmark, with the authority placing in the top 20% nationally on Innovation, Scaling and Investment. Its ESG score is the strongest in absolute terms, 45 points above the UK benchmark.
Each score is averaged across those companies, so it reflects how active local companies are rather than the size of the local economy. That makes it a fair comparison between authorities of very different scales.
The UK benchmark is set at 1,000, so Cotswold's composite score of 1,023 places it above the national average. The likely range of 1,003 to 1,043 shows how far the score could move with a slightly different mix of companies; a score is only published when that range is narrow enough to rely on.
South 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 Cotswold's composite score of 1,023 is built up, pillar by pillar.
Innovation
1,029
Well above average nationally
800UK 1,0001,700+
+29 points against the UK · Likely range 1,001–1,057 · 30% of the composite
Innovation measures patents, academic spinout status, R&D grant value, innovative sector tags and IS-8 sector tags. Cotswold scores 1,029 on this pillar, 29 points above the UK benchmark, ranking 58th of 361 authorities and placing it in the top 20% nationally. That puts it ahead of 83.9% of all authorities.
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
1,028
Well above average nationally
800UK 1,0001,700+
+28 points against the UK · Likely range 996–1,060 · 30% of the composite
Scaling captures whether companies qualify as scaleups, their headcount growth over recent years and whether they have attended an accelerator. Cotswold scores 1,028, 28 points above the UK benchmark, also ranking 58th of 360 authorities and again placing in the top 20%. Companies here are adding staff noticeably faster than the UK 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
1,005
Well above average nationally
800UK 1,0001,700+
+5 points against the UK · Likely range 968–1,042 · 30% of the composite
Investment looks at whether companies have raised equity in the last five years, how much they raised and whether they were first-time raisers. Cotswold ranks 55th of 360 authorities on this pillar, placing it in the top 20% nationally and ahead of 84.7% of all authorities, though its score of 1,005 sits only 5 points above the UK benchmark.
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
1,045
Above average nationally
800UK 1,0001,700+
+45 points against the UK · Likely range 1,021–1,069 · 10% of the composite
ESG covers clean energy activity, other green activity, environmental accolades, social and governance signals, and not-for-profit proxy status. Cotswold's ESG score of 1,045 is 45 points above the UK benchmark, the largest positive gap of any pillar, though at rank 101 of 361 it sits outside the top 20% on this measure, outperforming 72.0% of 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 Gloucestershire
The chart below shows how Cotswold's composite score of 1,023 compares with its neighbours in Gloucestershire, where it ranks 3rd of 7 authorities, sitting 6 points above the county score of 1,017 and 17 points above the South West regional score of 1,006.
What is Cotswold's score in the UK Local Growth Index?
Cotswold scores 1,023, placing it 23 points above the UK benchmark of 1,000. It ranks 47th of 361 local authorities.
How does Cotswold compare to the rest of Gloucestershire?
Cotswold ranks 3rd of 7 authorities in Gloucestershire and scores 6 points above the county average of 1,017. The next-highest authority in the county is Stroud, which scores 1,039.
How does Cotswold perform on Innovation?
Cotswold scores 1,029 on Innovation, 29 points above the UK benchmark, ranking 58th of 361 authorities and placing in the top 20% nationally. Innovation measures patents, academic spinout status, R&D grant value, innovative sector tags and IS-8 sector tags.
What does Cotswold's Scaling score tell us?
Cotswold scores 1,028 on Scaling, ranking 58th of 360 authorities. Scaling captures scaleup status, headcount growth and accelerator attendance, and Cotswold's result indicates its companies are adding staff noticeably faster than the UK average.
What is the likely range for Cotswold's composite score, and what does it mean?
The likely range is 1,003 to 1,043. It shows how far the score could move with a slightly different mix of companies; scores are only published when this range is narrow enough to rely on.
How many companies does the Cotswold score cover?
The index covers 6,559 active companies in Cotswold, with corporate groups counted once rather than as individual 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.
