Folkestone and Hythe scores 950 on the UK Local Growth Index, placing it 291st of 361 local authorities and 50 points below the UK benchmark. Its strongest pillar is ESG, where it ranks 62nd nationally and sits 80 points above the UK benchmark. Scaling is the weakest pillar, with the district ranking 345th of 360 authorities.
Each score is averaged across active companies in the district, with corporate groups counted once. That approach means a smaller authority with highly active companies can rank alongside a much larger one, making this a fair comparison across authorities of different sizes.
The UK as a whole scores 1,000, so Folkestone and Hythe's score of 950 places it below that benchmark, and below both its Kent county average of 967 and the South East regional average of 1,003. The likely range of 934 to 966 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, and this one is.
South East
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 Folkestone and Hythe's composite score of 950 is built up, pillar by pillar.
Innovation
936
Well below average nationally
800UK 1,0001,700+
−64 points against the UK · Likely range 914–958 · 30% of the composite
Innovation covers patents, academic spinouts, R&D grant value, innovative sector tags and IS-8 sector tags. Folkestone and Hythe scores 936 on this pillar, 64 points below the UK benchmark, ranking 305th of 361 authorities. It outperforms 15.5% of authorities, pointing to limited activity across these innovation measures relative to the national picture.
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
945
Well below average nationally
800UK 1,0001,700+
−55 points against the UK · Likely range 915–975 · 30% of the composite
Scaling measures whether companies are classed as scaleups, their headcount growth over recent years, and whether they have attended an accelerator. At 945 and ranked 345th of 360, this is the district's weakest pillar, sitting 55 points below the UK benchmark and outperforming only 4.2% of authorities. Companies in Folkestone and Hythe are adding staff at a notably slower rate 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
927
Below average nationally
800UK 1,0001,700+
−73 points against the UK · Likely range 895–959 · 30% of the composite
Investment captures whether companies have raised equity in the last five years, how much they raised, and whether any of those deals were a company's first equity raise. Folkestone and Hythe scores 927 here, 73 points below the UK benchmark, ranking 254th of 360 authorities. It outperforms 29.4% of authorities, making this the pillar where the district is closest to the middle of the national distribution.
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
1,080
Well above average nationally
800UK 1,0001,700+
+80 points against the UK · Likely range 1,053–1,107 · 10% of the composite
ESG covers clean energy activity, other green activity, environmental accolades, social and governance signals, and not-for-profit status. With a score of 1,080, Folkestone and Hythe is 80 points above the UK benchmark on this pillar, ranking 62nd of 361 authorities and outperforming 82.8%. This is a clear area of relative strength for the district'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 Kent
The chart below places Folkestone and Hythe's composite score of 950 alongside its neighbouring authorities in Kent, where it ranks 10th of 13.
What is Folkestone and Hythe's UK Local Growth Index score?
Folkestone and Hythe scores 950 on the UK Local Growth Index, placing it 291st of 361 local authorities and 50 points below the UK benchmark of 1,000.
How does Folkestone and Hythe compare to the rest of Kent?
Folkestone and Hythe ranks 10th of 13 authorities in Kent and sits 17 points below the Kent average of 967. The highest-scoring authority in Kent is not Folkestone and Hythe; the nearest runner-up in the county data shown is Dover, with a score of 1,023.
Which pillar is Folkestone and Hythe strongest on?
ESG is the district's strongest pillar, with a score of 1,080 that sits 80 points above the UK benchmark and ranks 62nd of 361 authorities. Its companies are notably active on measures such as clean energy, green activity, environmental accolades, and social and governance signals.
Where does Folkestone and Hythe rank on Scaling?
Folkestone and Hythe ranks 345th of 360 authorities on Scaling, with a score of 945 that is 55 points below the UK benchmark. This makes Scaling the district's weakest pillar.
How many companies are counted in Folkestone and Hythe's score?
The score covers 5,322 active companies in the district, with corporate groups counted once rather than as separate registered entities.
How does Folkestone and Hythe compare to the South East region?
The South East region scores 1,003 on the index, and Folkestone and Hythe's score of 950 is 53 points below that. Within the region, Folkestone and Hythe ranks 58th of 64 authorities.
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.
