Lewisham scores 950 on the UK Local Growth Index, placing it 295th of 361 local authorities and 50 points below the UK benchmark of 1,000. Its companies sit below both the Greater London average of 1,033 and the county average of 1,021. ESG is the pillar closest to the UK benchmark, while Scaling is the furthest behind.
Each score is an average across all active companies in the authority, with corporate groups counted once. That averaging means the index reflects how active local companies are across these measures rather than the sheer size of the local economy, which allows fair comparison between authorities of very different scales.
The UK as a whole scores 1,000, so Lewisham's 950 places it below that national reference point across 16,388 active companies. The likely range of 941 to 959 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.
London
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 Lewisham's composite score of 950 is built up, pillar by pillar.
Innovation
953
Below average nationally
800UK 1,0001,700+
−47 points against the UK · Likely range 940–966 · 30% of the composite
Innovation covers patents, academic spinouts, R&D grant value, innovative sector tagging and IS-8 sector classification. Lewisham ranks 249th of 361 authorities on this pillar, scoring 953, which is 47 points below the UK benchmark, and outperforms 31.0% 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
943
Well below average nationally
800UK 1,0001,700+
−57 points against the UK · Likely range 926–960 · 30% of the composite
Scaling measures whether companies qualify as scaleups, their headcount growth over recent years, and accelerator attendance. At 943 and ranked 350th of 360, this is Lewisham's weakest pillar, sitting 57 points below the UK benchmark and outperforming only 2.8% of authorities.
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
938
Average nationally
800UK 1,0001,700+
−62 points against the UK · Likely range 919–957 · 30% of the composite
Investment captures equity raisers, the value of equity raised and first-time raisers over the last five years. Ranking 204th of 360 and outperforming 43.3% of authorities, this is Lewisham's strongest pillar relative to the rest of the index, though at 938 it remains 62 points below 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
997
Below average nationally
800UK 1,0001,700+
−3 points against the UK · Likely range 984–1,010 · 10% of the composite
ESG reflects clean energy activity, other green activity, environmental accolades, social and governance signals, and not-for-profit status. Lewisham scores 997 here, just 3 points below the UK benchmark, ranking 229th of 361 authorities and outperforming 36.6% of them.
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 Greater London
The chart below places Lewisham's composite score alongside its neighbours in Greater London, where it ranks 20th of 32 authorities.
What is Lewisham's score on the UK Local Growth Index?
Lewisham scores 950, placing it 295th of 361 local authorities and 50 points below the UK benchmark of 1,000.
How does Lewisham compare to the rest of London?
Lewisham ranks 20th of 32 authorities in Greater London and 21st of 33 in the London region. Its score of 950 is 71 points below the county average of 1,021 and 83 points below the regional average of 1,033.
Which pillar is Lewisham strongest on?
Investment is Lewisham's strongest pillar relative to other authorities, where it ranks 204th of 360 and outperforms 43.3% of local authorities, though its score of 938 still sits below the UK benchmark.
Which pillar is Lewisham weakest on?
Scaling is Lewisham's weakest pillar, ranked 350th of 360 authorities with a score of 943, outperforming only 2.8% of authorities. This pillar measures scaleup status, headcount growth and accelerator attendance.
How many companies are counted in Lewisham's score?
The index covers 16,388 active companies in Lewisham, with corporate groups counted once rather than as individual registered entities.
What does the UK Local Growth Index measure?
The index measures the characteristics of a place's business economy across four pillars: Innovation, Scaling, Investment and ESG. It does not measure economic output or GDP. Every score is set against a fixed UK benchmark of 1,000, where higher is better.
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.
