Crawley ranks 121st of 361 UK local authorities, with a composite score of 993, placing it 7 points below the UK benchmark. Its strongest relative position is on Investment, where it ranks 87th nationally, outperforming more than three-quarters of authorities. ESG is the area where Crawley's companies are least active relative to the UK as a whole.
The composite score is built from four pillars: Innovation, Scaling, Investment and ESG, weighted at 30%, 30%, 30% and 10% respectively.
Each score is an average across active companies in the authority, with corporate groups counted once. That averaging means a smaller authority with highly active companies can score above a much larger one, making the index a fair comparison across authorities of very different sizes.
The UK as a whole scores 1,000, so Crawley's 993 puts it fractionally below that benchmark across its 5,573 active companies. Each score also comes with a likely range showing how much it could shift with a slightly different mix of companies; a score is only published when that range is narrow enough to rely on.
South 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 Crawley's composite score of 993 is built up, pillar by pillar.
Innovation
994
Above average nationally
800UK 1,0001,700+
−6 points against the UK · Likely range 966–1,022 · 30% of the composite
Innovation measures patents, academic spinouts, R&D grant value, innovative sector tags and IS-8 sector membership. Crawley's Innovation score of 994 sits 6 points below the UK benchmark, and the authority ranks 121st of 361, placing it in the top half nationally. Its companies are broadly in line with the UK average on the measures that capture research, grant activity and sector focus.
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
1,016
Above average nationally
800UK 1,0001,700+
+16 points against the UK · Likely range 981–1,051 · 30% of the composite
Scaling covers whether companies are classed as scaleups, their headcount growth over recent years, and accelerator attendance. At 1,016, Crawley's Scaling score is 16 points above the UK benchmark, and it ranks 91st of 360 authorities, outperforming nearly three-quarters of them. On this pillar, Crawley's companies are adding staff at a noticeably faster rate 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
978
Above average nationally
800UK 1,0001,700+
−22 points against the UK · Likely range 939–1,017 · 30% of the composite
Investment reflects equity raising activity: whether companies have raised equity in the last five years, how much they raised, and whether they did so for the first time in that period. Crawley ranks 87th of 360 on Investment, outperforming 75.8% of authorities, making this its strongest pillar by rank. The score of 978 sits 22 points below the UK benchmark, though that rank indicates Crawley's companies are relatively active in equity markets compared with most of the country.
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
967
Well below average nationally
800UK 1,0001,700+
−33 points against the UK · Likely range 943–991 · 10% of the composite
ESG captures clean energy activity, other green activity, environmental accolades, social and governance signals, and not-for-profit proxy status. Crawley's ESG score of 967 is 33 points below the UK benchmark, and at 303rd of 361 it sits in the lower part of the national distribution. This is the pillar where Crawley's companies show the least activity relative to the UK average.
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 Sussex
The chart below shows how Crawley's composite score of 993 compares with its West Sussex neighbours, where it ranks 5th of 7 authorities, sitting 2 points below the county score of 995.
Crawley has a composite score of 993, placing it 121st of 361 UK local authorities and 7 points below the UK benchmark of 1,000.
How does Crawley compare with other West Sussex authorities?
Crawley ranks 5th of 7 authorities in West Sussex, with a score of 993, which is 2 points below the county score of 995.
Which pillar is Crawley strongest on?
Investment is Crawley's strongest pillar by national rank, placing it 87th of 360 authorities and ahead of 75.8% of the country.
What does the UK Local Growth Index actually measure?
It measures the characteristics of companies based in each local authority across four pillars: Innovation, Scaling, Investment and ESG. It is not a measure of economic output or GDP.
How many active companies are counted in Crawley?
The index covers 5,573 active companies in Crawley, with corporate groups counted once rather than as individual registered entities.
Why does Crawley score below the UK average on ESG?
ESG measures clean energy activity, other green activity, environmental accolades, social and governance signals, and not-for-profit proxy status. At 33 points below the UK benchmark and ranked 303rd of 361, Crawley's companies are less active on these measures than most of the country.
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.
