Sefton scores 938 on the UK Local Growth Index, placing it 330th of 361 local authorities and 62 points below the UK benchmark of 1,000. Its strongest pillar is ESG, where it comes close to the national benchmark, while Innovation and Investment are the areas where it trails the UK most noticeably. The score sits below both the Merseyside average of 961 and the North West average of 973.
Each pillar score is an average across all active companies in the authority, which means a place with a small economy but highly active companies can score as well as a much larger one. That makes the index a fair comparison between authorities of very different sizes.
The UK as a whole scores 1,000, so Sefton's composite of 938 sits below that national benchmark. Every score also carries a likely range, which 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, and Sefton's composite range of 928 to 948 meets that standard.
North 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 Sefton's composite score of 938 is built up, pillar by pillar.
Innovation
922
Well below average nationally
800UK 1,0001,700+
−78 points against the UK · Likely range 908–936 · 30% of the composite
Innovation covers granted patent families filed in the last 20 years, academic spinout status, R&D grant value, and whether companies are tagged with innovative sectors or IS-8 sectors. Sefton ranks 342nd of 361 authorities on this pillar, scoring 922 and sitting 78 points below the UK benchmark, outperforming only 5.3% of authorities. This indicates that Sefton's companies show relatively limited engagement with patenting, R&D grant funding and the sectors the index designates as innovative.
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
968
Well below average nationally
800UK 1,0001,700+
−32 points against the UK · Likely range 949–987 · 30% of the composite
Scaling measures whether companies qualify as scaleups, their annualised headcount growth over the latest four years of accounts, and accelerator attendance. Sefton ranks 299th of 360 on this pillar with a score of 968, placing it 32 points below the UK benchmark. While still in the lower half nationally, this is Sefton's second-strongest pillar and suggests its companies are adding staff at a rate closer to the national average than its Innovation or Investment scores.
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
905
Well below average nationally
800UK 1,0001,700+
−95 points against the UK · Likely range 886–924 · 30% of the composite
Investment tracks whether companies raised equity in the last five years, the value of equity raised, and whether they did so for the first time in that period. At 905 and ranked 339th of 360, this is Sefton's weakest pillar by rank, sitting 95 points below the UK benchmark and outperforming only 5.8% of authorities. Relatively few of Sefton's companies have attracted or sought equity finance in recent years.
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
998
Below average nationally
800UK 1,0001,700+
−2 points against the UK · Likely range 983–1,013 · 10% of the composite
ESG captures clean energy activity, other green activity, environmental accolades, social and governance signals, and a not-for-profit proxy. Sefton scores 998 here, just 2 points below the UK benchmark, and ranks 225th of 361, outperforming 37.7% of authorities. This is a notably stronger position than on its other pillars, and places Sefton close to the national average on the environmental and social characteristics the index measures.
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 Merseyside
The chart below compares Sefton's composite score of 938 with its Merseyside neighbours, where it ranks 5th of 5 authorities, 23 points below the county average of 961.
What is Sefton's score on the UK Local Growth Index?
Sefton scores 938, placing it 330th of 361 local authorities and 62 points below the UK benchmark of 1,000.
How does Sefton compare with the rest of Merseyside?
Sefton ranks 5th of 5 authorities in Merseyside, sitting 23 points below the county average of 961. Liverpool is the next-ranked authority in the county with a score of 971.
Which pillar is Sefton's strongest?
ESG is Sefton's strongest pillar, with a score of 998, just 2 points below the UK benchmark. It ranks 225th of 361 authorities on this measure.
Where does Sefton rank for Innovation?
Sefton ranks 342nd of 361 authorities for Innovation, scoring 922 and sitting 78 points below the UK benchmark. It outperforms only 5.3% of authorities on this pillar.
How does Sefton's Investment score compare to the UK?
Sefton's Investment score of 905 is 95 points below the UK benchmark of 1,000, and it ranks 339th of 360 authorities on this pillar.
What does the UK Local Growth Index actually measure?
The index measures the characteristics of a place's active companies across four pillars: Innovation, Scaling, Investment and ESG. It does not measure economic output or GDP; scores are averaged across companies so that authorities of different sizes can be compared fairly.
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.
