Somerset scores 979 on the UK Local Growth Index, placing it 165th of 361 local authorities and 21 points below the UK benchmark. Its strongest result is on ESG, where it ranks 71st nationally and sits 76 points above the UK. Innovation and Investment both trail the benchmark, and Scaling is the weakest pillar relative to other authorities in the area.
Each score is an average across the authority's active companies, with corporate groups counted once. That averaging means places of very different sizes, Somerset has 27,022 active companies, can be compared fairly without larger economies automatically outscoring smaller ones.
The UK as a whole scores 1,000, so Somerset's 979 sits just below that national reference point. Every published score also comes with a likely range, which shows how much the score could move if the mix of companies were slightly different; Somerset's range of 971 to 987 is narrow enough that the score can be relied upon.
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 Somerset's composite score of 979 is built up, pillar by pillar.
Innovation
970
Average nationally
800UK 1,0001,700+
−30 points against the UK · Likely range 960–980 · 30% of the composite
Innovation captures patents, R&D grant value, academic spinout status, and whether companies are tagged with innovative sectors or IS-8 sectors. Somerset ranks 190th of 361 authorities on this pillar, with a score of 970, placing it 30 points below the UK benchmark. It outperforms just under half of all authorities, suggesting innovation activity among local companies is broadly in line with, but modestly below, the national picture.
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
987
Below average nationally
800UK 1,0001,700+
−13 points against the UK · Likely range 973–1,001 · 30% of the composite
Scaling measures whether companies meet the 20% scaleup threshold, their three-year headcount growth rate, and whether they have attended an accelerator. At 987, Somerset's Scaling score is 13 points below the UK benchmark and ranks 218th of 360 authorities, making it the authority's weakest pillar by rank. Only around two in five authorities score lower, pointing to a business base where rapid growth is somewhat less common than 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
949
Average nationally
800UK 1,0001,700+
−51 points against the UK · Likely range 933–965 · 30% of the composite
Investment reflects equity-raising activity: whether companies raised equity in the last five years, how much they raised, and whether they did so for the first time. Somerset's Investment score of 949 is 51 points below the UK benchmark, ranking 163rd of 360 authorities. That said, it outperforms just over half of all authorities, so access to equity among local companies, while below the national level, is not at the lower end of the distribution.
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
1,076
Well above average nationally
800UK 1,0001,700+
+76 points against the UK · Likely range 1,064–1,088 · 10% of the composite
ESG covers clean energy activity, other green activity, environmental accolades, social and governance signals, and not-for-profit proxy status. Somerset's ESG score of 1,076 is 76 points above the UK benchmark and ranks 71st of 361 authorities, placing it in the top 20% nationally. This is the authority's standout pillar, outperforming more than four in five local authorities across the UK.
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 Somerset
The chart below sets Somerset's composite score of 979 alongside its county neighbours, including Bath and North East Somerset, which leads the county on 1,047.
What is Somerset's score on the UK Local Growth Index?
Somerset scores 979 on the UK Local Growth Index, placing it 165th of 361 local authorities. That puts it 21 points below the UK benchmark of 1,000.
How does Somerset compare to the South West region?
Somerset scores 27 points below the South West regional score of 1,006, ranking 18th of the 27 authorities in the region.
Which pillar does Somerset score highest on?
Somerset's strongest pillar is ESG, where it scores 1,076, ranking 71st of 361 authorities and sitting 76 points above the UK benchmark.
How does Somerset perform on innovation?
Somerset ranks 190th of 361 authorities on Innovation, with a score of 970, which is 30 points below the UK benchmark. Innovation is measured using patents, R&D grant value, academic spinout status, and sector tags.
How many active companies are counted in Somerset's score?
The index counts 27,022 active companies in Somerset, with corporate groups counted once rather than as separate registered entities.
What does the likely range mean for Somerset's score?
Somerset's composite score of 979 comes with a likely range of 971 to 987. This shows how much the score could move with a slightly different mix of companies; the range is narrow enough that the score can be relied upon.
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.
