[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"authority-dudley":3},{"authority":4,"scoredCount":13,"pillars":14,"ranks":51,"averages":59,"peers":62,"rankLine":89,"countyIsDistinct":67,"content":90,"contentMeta":122,"dataFrom":125,"dataTo":126,"dataChangedAt":127},{"slug":5,"name":6,"county":7,"regionName":7,"region":8,"councilName":9,"activeCompanies":10,"score":11,"halfRange":12},"dudley","Dudley","West Midlands","west-midlands","Dudley Council",17136,953,9,361,[15,26,36,43],{"key":16,"name":17,"colourVar":18,"compositeWeight":19,"shown":20,"score":21,"halfRange":22,"rank":23,"rankOf":13,"outperforms":24,"topPercent":25},"innovation","Innovation","--pillar-innovation",0.3,true,946,13,277,23.3,100,{"key":27,"name":28,"colourVar":29,"compositeWeight":19,"shown":20,"score":30,"halfRange":31,"rank":32,"rankOf":33,"outperforms":34,"topPercent":35},"scaling","Scaling","--pillar-scaling",986,17,222,360,38.3,75,{"key":37,"name":38,"colourVar":39,"compositeWeight":19,"shown":20,"score":40,"halfRange":31,"rank":41,"rankOf":33,"outperforms":42,"topPercent":25},"investment","Investment","--pillar-investment",920,284,21.1,{"key":44,"name":45,"colourVar":46,"compositeWeight":47,"shown":20,"score":48,"halfRange":22,"rank":49,"rankOf":13,"outperforms":50,"topPercent":25},"esg","ESG","--pillar-esg",0.1,970,297,17.7,{"national":52,"region":53,"county":56},282,{"rank":54,"of":55},22,30,{"rank":57,"of":58},4,7,{"county":60,"region":61},954,965,[63,68,72,76,77,81,85],{"slug":64,"name":65,"score":66,"isCurrent":67},"solihull","Solihull",979,false,{"slug":69,"name":70,"score":71,"isCurrent":67},"coventry","Coventry",968,{"slug":73,"name":74,"score":75,"isCurrent":67},"birmingham","Birmingham",959,{"slug":5,"name":6,"score":11,"isCurrent":20},{"slug":78,"name":79,"score":80,"isCurrent":67},"walsall","Walsall",938,{"slug":82,"name":83,"score":84,"isCurrent":67},"wolverhampton","Wolverhampton",934,{"slug":86,"name":87,"score":88,"isCurrent":67},"sandwell","Sandwell",931,"282nd of 361 authorities nationally",{"heroSummary":91,"intro":92,"pillarCommentary":96,"compareSummary":101,"faqs":102,"metaDescription":121},"Dudley scores 953 on the UK Local Growth Index, placing it 282nd of 361 local authorities and 47 points below the UK benchmark. All four pillars are published. Scaling is its strongest area, sitting closest to the UK benchmark, while Investment trails furthest behind.",[93,94,95],"Dudley's composite score is built from four pillars: Innovation, Scaling, Investment and ESG, weighted 30%, 30%, 30% and 10% respectively.","The index measures the characteristics of active companies in each authority, with corporate groups counted once. Because each score is averaged across those companies rather than summed, it reflects how active local companies are, not how large the local economy is. That makes it a fair basis for comparing authorities of very different sizes.","A score of 1,000 represents the UK as a whole, so Dudley's composite of 953 places it below the national benchmark. Alongside every score, the index publishes a likely range showing how much the figure could move with a slightly different mix of companies; a score is only published when that range is narrow enough to rely on, and Dudley's composite range of 944 to 962 meets that test.",{"innovation":97,"scaling":98,"investment":99,"esg":100},"Innovation captures patents, academic spinouts, R&D grant value, innovative sector tags and IS-8 sector membership. Dudley's Innovation score of 946 sits 54 points below the UK benchmark, ranking 277th of 361 authorities, and outperforms only 23.3% of authorities. That places it among the lower quarter nationally on this pillar.","Scaling measures whether companies qualify as scaleups, their headcount growth rate over recent years, and accelerator participation. At 986, Dudley's Scaling score is 14 points below the UK benchmark, its narrowest gap across the four pillars, and it ranks 222nd of 360 authorities, outperforming 38.3% of peers.","Investment covers equity raisers, the value of equity raised, and first-time raisers, all over the last five years. Dudley's Investment score of 920 is 80 points below the UK benchmark, the widest gap of any pillar, and the authority ranks 284th of 360. Equity activity among local companies is notably limited relative to the national picture.","ESG looks at clean energy activity, other green activity, environmental accolades, social and governance signals, and a not-for-profit proxy. Dudley scores 970, which is 30 points below the UK benchmark. It ranks 297th of 361 authorities on this pillar, outperforming 17.7% of peers, making it Dudley's lowest-ranked pillar despite carrying the smallest weight in the composite.","The chart below sets Dudley's composite score against its neighbours in the West Midlands, where it ranks 22nd of 30 authorities with a score of 953, 12 points below the regional score of 965.",[103,106,109,112,115,118],{"question":104,"answer":105},"What is Dudley's score on the UK Local Growth Index?","Dudley scores 953, placing it 282nd of 361 local authorities and 47 points below the UK benchmark of 1,000.",{"question":107,"answer":108},"How does Dudley compare to other West Midlands authorities?","Dudley ranks 22nd of 30 authorities in the West Midlands region. Its composite score of 953 is 12 points below the regional score of 965.",{"question":110,"answer":111},"Which pillar is Dudley strongest on?","Scaling is Dudley's strongest pillar, with a score of 986 that is 14 points below the UK benchmark. It ranks 222nd of 360 authorities on this measure.",{"question":113,"answer":114},"Where does Dudley rank for investment activity?","Dudley ranks 284th of 360 authorities on Investment, with a score of 920. That is 80 points below the UK benchmark, the largest gap of any of its four pillars.",{"question":116,"answer":117},"How many active companies are counted in Dudley's score?","The index counts 17,136 active companies in Dudley, with corporate groups counted once rather than as separate registered entities.",{"question":119,"answer":120},"What does the likely range on Dudley's score mean?","The likely range of 944 to 962 shows how much the composite score could shift with a slightly different mix of companies. Dudley's range is narrow enough to publish with confidence.","Dudley scores 953 on the UK Local Growth Index, ranking 282nd of 361 authorities and 47 points below the UK benchmark. See its Innovation, Scaling, Investment and ESG scores.",{"source":123,"cached":20,"generatedAt":124},"claude:claude-sonnet-4-6","2026-10-20 11:00:46",2021,2026,"2026-10-20"]