East Suffolk

East Suffolk scores 973 on the UK Local Growth Index, placing it 194th of 361 local authorities and 27 points below the UK benchmark. Its strongest result is on ESG, where it sits in the top third of all authorities. Investment is the area where it trails the UK most noticeably.

  • Top pillar: ESG
  • Biggest opportunity: Investment
  • 10,324 active companies

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The composite score for East Suffolk is built from four pillars: Innovation, Scaling, Investment and ESG, weighted at 30%, 30%, 30% and 10% respectively.

Each score is averaged across the authority's active companies, with corporate groups counted once. That approach means a small authority with active, high-growth companies can score just as highly as a much larger one, making comparisons between very different places fair.

The UK as a whole scores 1,000 on the fixed benchmark, so East Suffolk's composite of 973 places it just below the national average. The likely range of 961 to 985 shows how much the score could move with a slightly different mix of companies; because that range is narrow enough to rely on, the score is published here.

East of England

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%.

  • Innovation 30%965Average nationally
  • Scaling 30%1,000Average nationally
  • Investment 30%931Below average nationally
  • ESG 10%1,043Above average nationally

Want to learn more about the scores? Speak to an expert

Pillar breakdown

How East Suffolk's composite score of 973 is built up, pillar by pillar.

Innovation

965

Average nationally

−35 points against the UK · Likely range 949–981 · 30% of the composite

Innovation is scored on patents, academic spinouts, R&D grant value, innovative sector tagging and IS-8 sector tagging. East Suffolk's Innovation score of 965 sits 35 points below the UK benchmark, ranking 204th of 361 authorities, suggesting its companies are somewhat less active on these innovation measures than the national average.

The 5 measures behind this pillar

  • Patents25%See the data on Beauhurst

    Granted patent families filed in the last 20 years, held anywhere in the corporate group (capped, log scale).

  • Academic spinouts25%See the data on Beauhurst

    Whether the company is a university spinout.

  • R&D grant value25%See the data on Beauhurst

    Value of R&D grants received in the last five years: Innovate UK, EU programmes and other grants for R&D (capped, log scale).

  • Innovative sectors15%See the data on Beauhurst

    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.

  • IS-8 sectors10%See the data on Beauhurst

    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

1,000

Average nationally

±0 points against the UK · Likely range 975–1,025 · 30% of the composite

Scaling captures scaleup status, headcount growth and accelerator participation. At 1,000, East Suffolk is exactly level with the UK benchmark on this pillar, ranking 159th of 360 authorities. Companies here are adding staff and achieving high-growth signals at a rate in line with the national picture.

The 3 measures behind this pillar

  • Scaleups45%See the data on Beauhurst

    Whether the company is a 20% scaleup (Beauhurst high-growth signal).

  • Headcount growth45%See the data on Beauhurst

    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.

  • Accelerator10%See the data on Beauhurst

    Whether the company has attended an accelerator.

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

931

Below average nationally

−69 points against the UK · Likely range 908–954 · 30% of the composite

Investment measures equity raising activity: whether companies have raised equity in the last five years, the value of that equity, and whether any raise was a company's first ever. East Suffolk's Investment score of 931 is 69 points below the UK benchmark, the authority's weakest pillar, ranking 232nd of 360. Equity investment into local companies is relatively limited compared with the national average.

The 3 measures behind this pillar

  • Equity raisers40%See the data on Beauhurst

    Whether the company raised equity in the last five years.

  • Equity raised40%See the data on Beauhurst

    Amount of equity raised in the last five years (capped, log scale).

  • First-time raisers20%See the data on Beauhurst

    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

1,043

Above average nationally

+43 points against the UK · Likely range 1,024–1,062 · 10% of the composite

ESG covers clean energy activity, other green activity, environmental accolades, social and governance signals, and not-for-profit proxy status. East Suffolk's ESG score of 1,043 is 43 points above the UK benchmark, ranking 107th of 361 authorities and placing it in the top third nationally. This is the pillar on which East Suffolk most clearly outperforms the UK average.

The 5 measures behind this pillar

  • Clean energy30%See the data on Beauhurst

    Active in clean or renewable energy, or clean technology.

  • Other green activity20%See the data on Beauhurst

    Active in green buildings and infrastructure, green transport, or sustainable farming and food.

  • Environmental accolades20%See the data on Beauhurst

    Has an environmental accolade, including completed Innovate UK clean growth grants.

  • Social and governance15%See the data on Beauhurst

    Has a gender pay equality signal from a report in the last five years, a director gender equality signal, or a social accolade.

  • Not-for-profit proxy15%See the data on Beauhurst

    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 Suffolk

The chart below compares East Suffolk's composite score with those of its neighbouring authorities in Suffolk.

Dots share one axis across the site. The line marks the UK benchmark of 1,000; differences are in points.

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about East Suffolk's Local Growth Score and how it's calculated.

Read the methodology
What is East Suffolk's score on the UK Local Growth Index?

East Suffolk scores 973, placing it 194th of 361 local authorities and 27 points below the UK benchmark of 1,000.

How does East Suffolk compare with the rest of Suffolk?

East Suffolk ranks 4th of 5 authorities in Suffolk and scores 1 point below the county average of 974. The closest-scoring authority in the county is Mid Suffolk, which scores 991.

Which pillar is East Suffolk strongest on?

ESG is East Suffolk's strongest pillar, with a score of 1,043, which is 43 points above the UK benchmark and ranks 107th of 361 authorities.

Where does East Suffolk score lowest?

Investment is East Suffolk's weakest pillar at 931, which is 69 points below the UK benchmark, ranking 232nd of 360 authorities.

How many companies are counted in East Suffolk's score?

The index counts 10,324 active companies in East Suffolk, with corporate groups counted once rather than as separate registered entities.

How does East Suffolk compare with the East of England region?

East Suffolk scores 18 points below the East of England regional average of 991, ranking 22nd of 45 authorities in the region.

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.

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