Sandwell scores 931 on the UK Local Growth Index, placing it 349th of 361 local authorities and 69 points below the UK benchmark of 1,000. Its strongest pillar is Scaling, where it sits closest to the national average. Innovation and Investment are the main drags on the composite, both sitting well below the benchmark.
Each score is an average across all active companies in the authority, with corporate groups counted once. That averaging means a smaller authority with highly active companies can outscore a larger one, making this a fair comparison between authorities of very different sizes.
The UK as a whole scores 1,000, so Sandwell's 931 places it below that national reference point. The likely range of 923 to 939 shows how much the score might shift with a slightly different mix of companies; because that range is narrow, the score is reliable enough to publish.
West Midlands
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 Sandwell's composite score of 931 is built up, pillar by pillar.
Innovation
908
Well below average nationally
800UK 1,0001,700+
−92 points against the UK · Likely range 897–919 · 30% of the composite
Innovation captures patents, academic spinouts, R&D grant value, innovative sector tags and IS-8 sector classification. Sandwell ranks 357th of 361 authorities on this pillar, scoring 908 and sitting 92 points below the UK benchmark, suggesting companies here are less active on these innovation measures than in most other parts of the country.
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 960–992 · 30% of the composite
Scaling covers whether companies meet the scaleup threshold, headcount growth rates and accelerator attendance. At 976, Sandwell is 24 points below the UK benchmark and ranks 266th of 360 authorities, making this its strongest pillar and the area where it comes closest 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
909
Well below average nationally
800UK 1,0001,700+
−91 points against the UK · Likely range 893–925 · 30% of the composite
Investment reflects equity raising activity: whether companies raised equity in the last five years, the amount raised and whether they were first-time raisers. Sandwell scores 909 here, 91 points below the UK benchmark and ranked 327th of 360, pointing to limited equity investment activity among its companies.
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
929
Well below average nationally
800UK 1,0001,700+
−71 points against the UK · Likely range 918–940 · 10% of the composite
The ESG pillar measures clean energy activity, other green activity, environmental accolades, social and governance signals, and not-for-profit status. Sandwell scores 929 on ESG, 71 points below the UK benchmark, and ranks 352nd of 361 authorities, indicating that these characteristics are relatively uncommon among its 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 West Midlands
The chart below compares Sandwell's composite score of 931 with its neighbours in the West Midlands, where Sandwell ranks 7th of 7 authorities with a county average of 954.
What is Sandwell's score on the UK Local Growth Index?
Sandwell scores 931, placing it 349th of 361 local authorities and 69 points below the UK benchmark of 1,000.
How does Sandwell compare to other West Midlands authorities?
Sandwell ranks 7th of 7 authorities in its county group, scoring 23 points below the county average of 954 and 34 points below the regional average of 965.
Which pillar is Sandwell strongest on?
Scaling is Sandwell's highest-scoring pillar at 976, ranking 266th of 360 authorities and sitting 24 points below the UK benchmark.
Where does Sandwell score lowest?
Innovation is Sandwell's lowest pillar, with a score of 908 and a rank of 357th of 361 authorities, placing it 92 points below the UK benchmark.
How many companies are counted in Sandwell's score?
The score is based on 19,218 active companies, with corporate groups counted once rather than as separate registered entities.
What does the UK Local Growth Index actually measure?
It measures the characteristics of a place's business economy across four pillars: Innovation, Scaling, Investment and ESG. It is not a measure of economic output or GDP.
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.
