Newcastle upon Tyne ranks 24th of 361 local authorities in the UK Local Growth Index, scoring 59 points above the UK benchmark. It places first in Tyne and Wear and first in the North East, sitting ahead of the county average by 48 points and the regional average by 65 points. All four pillars sit above the UK benchmark, with Investment leading at 22nd nationally.
The index measures the characteristics of active companies in each authority, with corporate groups counted once. Because the score is an average across those companies rather than a total, it reflects how active local companies are rather than the size of the local economy, which makes it a fair comparison between authorities with very different numbers of businesses.
The UK benchmark is set at 1,000, so any score above that means companies in this authority show stronger characteristics than the national average across those measures. Newcastle upon Tyne's likely range runs from 1,043 to 1,075, which 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.
North 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 Newcastle upon Tyne's composite score of 1,059 is built up, pillar by pillar.
Innovation
1,074
Well above average nationally
800UK 1,0001,700+
+74 points against the UK · Likely range 1,050–1,098 · 30% of the composite
Innovation covers granted patent families filed in the last 20 years, university spinout status, R&D grant values from Innovate UK and other programmes, classification in innovative sectors, and IS-8 sector membership. Newcastle upon Tyne ranks 24th of 361 authorities on this pillar, scoring 74 points above the UK benchmark and placing in the top 10% nationally, outperforming 93.4% 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
1,046
Well above average nationally
800UK 1,0001,700+
+46 points against the UK · Likely range 1,026–1,066 · 30% of the composite
The Scaling pillar captures scaleup status, headcount growth over a three-year period, and accelerator participation. Newcastle upon Tyne ranks 33rd of 360 authorities, scoring 46 points above the UK benchmark. It sits in the top 10% nationally, outperforming 90.8% of authorities, which indicates its companies are adding staff at a noticeably faster 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
1,062
Well above average nationally
800UK 1,0001,700+
+62 points against the UK · Likely range 1,032–1,092 · 30% of the composite
Investment measures whether companies raised equity in the last five years, how much they raised, and whether a raise was their first ever. Newcastle upon Tyne's strongest pillar, it ranks 22nd of 360 authorities, scoring 62 points above the UK benchmark and outperforming 93.9% of all authorities, placing firmly in the top 10% nationally.
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 1,029–1,061 · 10% of the composite
ESG looks at clean energy activity, other green activity, environmental accolades, social and governance signals, and not-for-profit proxy status. Newcastle upon Tyne ranks 102nd of 361 authorities on this pillar, scoring 45 points above the UK benchmark. While that still places it above the national average, it outperforms 71.7% of authorities, making it the relative softer spot in an otherwise strong overall profile.
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 Tyne and Wear
The chart below shows how Newcastle upon Tyne's composite score compares with its neighbours across Tyne and Wear.
How does Newcastle upon Tyne rank in the UK Local Growth Index?
Newcastle upon Tyne ranks 24th of 361 local authorities, scoring 59 points above the UK benchmark of 1,000. It is the highest-ranked authority in both Tyne and Wear and the North East.
What is Newcastle upon Tyne's strongest pillar in the index?
Investment is its strongest pillar, ranking 22nd of 360 authorities and scoring 62 points above the UK benchmark. It outperforms 93.9% of all authorities on this measure.
How does Newcastle upon Tyne compare with the rest of Tyne and Wear?
Newcastle upon Tyne ranks first in Tyne and Wear, scoring 48 points above the county average of 1,011. The next-highest authority in the county is Gateshead, which scores 1,000.
What does the UK benchmark of 1,000 mean?
The UK as a whole scores 1,000, so any authority above that figure shows stronger company characteristics than the national average. Newcastle upon Tyne's composite score of 1,059 places it 59 points above that benchmark.
What does the likely range mean for Newcastle upon Tyne's score?
The likely range of 1,043 to 1,075 shows how much the composite score could move with a slightly different mix of companies in the authority. A score is only published when that range is narrow enough to rely on.
How does Newcastle upon Tyne perform on Innovation?
Newcastle upon Tyne ranks 24th of 361 authorities on Innovation, scoring 74 points above the UK benchmark and placing in the top 10% nationally. It outperforms 93.4% of all authorities on this pillar.
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.
