Guildford scores 1,087 on the UK Local Growth Index, placing it 16th of 361 local authorities and 87 points above the UK benchmark. It ranks 1st in Surrey and 5th across the South East. Innovation is its strongest pillar, sitting 125 points above the UK average.
Each pillar score is averaged across a local authority's companies, so a smaller authority with highly active businesses can outscore a much larger one. That averaging is what makes the index a fair comparison between places of very different sizes.
The UK as a whole scores 1,000, so Guildford's 1,087 places it meaningfully above the national level on the characteristics the index measures. Every score also comes with a likely range, showing how much it could move with a slightly different mix of companies; Guildford's range of 1,065 to 1,109 is narrow enough that this score can be relied upon.
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 Guildford's composite score of 1,087 is built up, pillar by pillar.
Innovation
1,125
Well above average nationally
800UK 1,0001,700+
+125 points against the UK · Likely range 1,093–1,157 · 30% of the composite
Innovation covers patents, academic spinouts, R&D grant value, innovative sector tags and IS-8 sector classification. Guildford ranks 12th of 361 authorities on this pillar, scoring 1,125 and sitting 125 points above the UK benchmark, placing it in the top 5% nationally. That result points to a local business base with notably strong activity across the patent, grant and sector signals that make up this measure.
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
1,053
Well above average nationally
800UK 1,0001,700+
+53 points against the UK · Likely range 1,028–1,078 · 30% of the composite
The Scaling pillar captures scaleup status, headcount growth and accelerator participation. Guildford ranks 26th of 360 authorities with a score of 1,053, putting it 53 points above the UK average and in the top 10% nationally. Its companies are adding staff noticeably faster than the UK average, and accelerator participation adds further weight to this reading.
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
1,094
Well above average nationally
800UK 1,0001,700+
+94 points against the UK · Likely range 1,053–1,135 · 30% of the composite
Investment measures whether companies have raised equity in the last five years, how much they raised and whether they did so for the first time. Guildford ranks 18th of 360 authorities at 1,094, placing it 94 points above the UK benchmark and in the top 5%. That indicates a local business community with above-average access to and participation in equity markets.
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
1,058
Above average nationally
800UK 1,0001,700+
+58 points against the UK · Likely range 1,035–1,081 · 10% of the composite
The ESG pillar looks at clean energy activity, other green activity, environmental accolades, social and governance signals, and not-for-profit proxy status. At 1,058 and ranked 90th of 361 authorities, Guildford is 58 points above the UK benchmark. While this is Guildford's lowest-ranking pillar, it still outperforms more than three-quarters of all authorities.
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 Surrey
The chart below shows how Guildford's composite score compares with neighbouring authorities in Surrey, where it leads the county ahead of second-placed Mole Valley on 1,030.
What is Guildford's score on the UK Local Growth Index?
Guildford scores 1,087, which is 87 points above the UK benchmark of 1,000. It ranks 16th of 361 local authorities.
How does Guildford rank in Surrey?
Guildford ranks 1st in Surrey, 85 points above the county score of 1,002. The next-highest authority in the county is Mole Valley with a score of 1,030.
How does Guildford compare with the South East region?
Guildford ranks 5th of 64 authorities in the South East, scoring 84 points above the regional score of 1,003.
Which pillar is Guildford's strongest?
Innovation is Guildford's strongest pillar, with a score of 1,125 that is 125 points above the UK average. It ranks 12th of 361 authorities on this measure, placing it in the top 5% nationally.
What does the UK Local Growth Index actually measure?
It measures the characteristics of a local authority's business economy across four pillars: Innovation, Scaling, Investment and ESG. Active companies are counted with corporate groups counted once, and scores are averaged so that places of different sizes can be compared fairly.
How reliable is Guildford's index score?
The score comes with a likely range of 1,065 to 1,109, which reflects how much it could shift with a slightly different mix of companies. That range is narrow enough that the score is published and 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.
