Forest of Dean scores 953 on the UK Local Growth Index, placing it 279th of 361 local authorities and 47 points below the UK benchmark. Its composite score sits below both the Gloucestershire county average and the South West regional average. ESG is the standout pillar, while Investment is the area where it trails the UK most noticeably.
The composite score is built from four pillars: Innovation, Scaling, Investment and ESG, weighted at 30%, 30%, 30% and 10% respectively.
Each pillar score is averaged across Forest of Dean's 3,776 active companies, with corporate groups counted once. That averaging means the index reflects how active local companies are rather than how large the local economy is, which makes it a fair comparison between authorities of different sizes.
The UK as a whole scores 1,000 on the benchmark, so Forest of Dean's composite of 953 places it below the national average. The likely range of 935 to 971 shows how much 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 Forest of Dean's composite score of 953 is built up, pillar by pillar.
Innovation
946
Below average nationally
800UK 1,0001,700+
−54 points against the UK · Likely range 920–972 · 30% of the composite
Innovation measures patents, academic spinout status, R&D grant value, presence in innovative sectors and IS-8 sector classification. Forest of Dean ranks 274th of 361 authorities on this pillar, scoring 946, which is 54 points below the UK benchmark, and outperforms only 24.1% of 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
976
Below average nationally
800UK 1,0001,700+
−24 points against the UK · Likely range 941–1,011 · 30% of the composite
Scaling captures whether companies are scaleups, their headcount growth rate and accelerator participation. At 976, Forest of Dean is 24 points below the UK benchmark and ranks 268th of 360 authorities, its closest pillar to 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
906
Well below average nationally
800UK 1,0001,700+
−94 points against the UK · Likely range 871–941 · 30% of the composite
Investment covers equity raisers, the amount of equity raised and first-time raisers in the last five years. This is Forest of Dean's weakest pillar: a score of 906 places it 330th of 360 authorities and 94 points below the UK benchmark, with only 8.3% of authorities scoring lower.
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
1,046
Above average nationally
800UK 1,0001,700+
+46 points against the UK · Likely range 1,014–1,078 · 10% of the composite
ESG measures clean energy activity, other green activity, environmental accolades, social and governance signals, and not-for-profit proxy status. Forest of Dean scores 1,046 here, 46 points above the UK benchmark, ranking 99th of 361 authorities and outperforming 72.6% of all authorities. This is its strongest pillar by a clear margin.
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 compares Forest of Dean's composite score with the other authorities in Gloucestershire.
What is Forest of Dean's score on the UK Local Growth Index?
Forest of Dean scores 953 on the UK Local Growth Index, placing it 279th of 361 local authorities and 47 points below the UK benchmark of 1,000.
How does Forest of Dean compare with the rest of Gloucestershire?
Forest of Dean ranks 7th of the 7 authorities in Gloucestershire, scoring 64 points below the county average of 1,017. Stroud, the next-placed authority in the county, scores 1,039.
Which pillar is Forest of Dean strongest on?
ESG is Forest of Dean's strongest pillar, with a score of 1,046, which is 46 points above the UK benchmark. It ranks 99th of 361 authorities on this measure.
Where does Forest of Dean perform weakest?
Investment is the weakest pillar, scoring 906 and ranking 330th of 360 authorities, 94 points below the UK benchmark. This pillar covers equity raisers, equity raised and first-time raisers.
How does Forest of Dean's score compare with the South West average?
Forest of Dean scores 53 points below the South West regional average of 1,006, ranking 27th of the 27 authorities in the region.
How many companies does the Forest of Dean score cover?
The index covers 3,776 active companies in Forest of Dean, 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.
