Bolton scores 941 on the Local Growth Index, placing it 326th of 361 UK local authorities and 59 points below the UK benchmark. All four pillars are published, and each sits below the UK average. Within Greater Manchester, Bolton ranks 6th of 10 authorities, trailing the county average by 35 points.
The index measures the characteristics of active companies in each authority, with corporate groups counted once. Because each score is averaged across those companies rather than totalled, a large authority with many modest firms can score lower than a smaller one with highly active firms, making this a fair comparison between authorities of very different sizes.
The UK as a whole scores 1,000, so Bolton's score of 941 means its companies are, on average, less active across these measures than the UK norm. The likely range of 934 to 948 shows how much the score might shift with a slightly different mix of companies; Bolton's range is narrow enough for the score to be published with confidence.
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 Bolton's composite score of 941 is built up, pillar by pillar.
Innovation
937
Well below average nationally
800UK 1,0001,700+
−63 points against the UK · Likely range 926–948 · 30% of the composite
Innovation covers patents, academic spinouts, R&D grant value, innovative sector tags and IS-8 sector membership. Bolton ranks 300th of 361 authorities on this pillar, scoring 937 and sitting 63 points below the UK benchmark, outperforming only 16.9% of authorities. This points to relatively limited patent activity, R&D grant uptake and high-innovation sector presence among Bolton's companies.
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
966
Well below average nationally
800UK 1,0001,700+
−34 points against the UK · Likely range 952–980 · 30% of the composite
The Scaling pillar measures whether companies are 20% scaleups, their three-year headcount growth rate and whether they have attended an accelerator. Bolton ranks 302nd of 360 on Scaling, scoring 966 and coming in 34 points below the UK average. That gap, while the narrowest of Bolton's four pillars, still indicates that employment growth and accelerator participation among local companies are below the national norm.
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
914
Well below average nationally
800UK 1,0001,700+
−86 points against the UK · Likely range 899–929 · 30% of the composite
Investment captures equity-raising activity: whether companies have raised equity in the last five years, how much they raised, and whether a deal was their first ever. Bolton's Investment score of 914 is its weakest in absolute terms, sitting 86 points below the UK benchmark and ranking 305th of 360. This suggests equity investment is considerably less common among Bolton's companies than across the UK as a whole.
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
954
Well below average nationally
800UK 1,0001,700+
−46 points against the UK · Likely range 943–965 · 10% of the composite
The ESG pillar covers clean energy activity, other green activity, environmental accolades, social and governance signals, and a not-for-profit proxy. Bolton ranks 324th of 361 on ESG, scoring 954 and falling 46 points below the UK average. Though ESG carries the lowest weight in the composite, Bolton's position here, outperforming only 10.2% of authorities, reflects limited green and social signals among its companies relative to the national picture.
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 Manchester
The chart below sets Bolton's composite score of 941 alongside its neighbours in Greater Manchester, where the county average stands at 976.
Bolton scores 941 on the UK Local Growth Index, placing it 326th of 361 local authorities and 59 points below the UK benchmark of 1,000.
How does Bolton compare to the rest of Greater Manchester?
Bolton ranks 6th of the 10 authorities in Greater Manchester and sits 35 points below the county average of 976. Manchester is the county's leading authority, scoring 1,015.
How does Bolton compare to the North West region?
Within the North West, Bolton ranks 29th of 35 authorities and scores 32 points below the regional average of 973.
Which pillar is Bolton strongest on?
Innovation is Bolton's highest-scoring pillar at 937, though it still sits 63 points below the UK benchmark and ranks 300th of 361 authorities.
How many companies are counted in Bolton's score?
The index covers 22,584 active companies in Bolton, with corporate groups counted once rather than as separate entities.
What does the Local Growth Index actually measure?
It measures the characteristics of a place's companies across four pillars: Innovation, Scaling, Investment and ESG. It is not a measure of economic output or GDP; it reflects how active local companies are across these dimensions.
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.
