Leicester's composite score of 937 places it 339th of 361 local authorities, sitting 63 points below the UK benchmark. Scores across all four pillars fall below the national reference point, with Investment the furthest behind and Scaling the closest to it. The authority also ranks below both Leicestershire (969) and the East Midlands region (972).
Leicester's 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 the authority's active companies, with corporate groups counted once. That approach means a small authority with highly active companies can score above a much larger one, making this a fair comparison across authorities of very different sizes.
The UK benchmark is set at 1,000, so Leicester's score of 937 indicates that its companies, on average, are less active across these measures than the national picture. The likely range of 930 to 944 shows how much the score could shift with a slightly different mix of companies; because that range is narrow enough to rely on, the score is published.
East Midlands
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 Leicester's composite score of 937 is built up, pillar by pillar.
Innovation
932
Well below average nationally
800UK 1,0001,700+
−68 points against the UK · Likely range 922–942 · 30% of the composite
Innovation measures patents, academic spinout status, R&D grant value, innovative sector tags and IS-8 sector tags. Leicester ranks 318th of 361 authorities on this pillar, scoring 932, which is 68 points below the UK benchmark, and outperforms only 11.9% of authorities.
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
961
Well below average nationally
800UK 1,0001,700+
−39 points against the UK · Likely range 948–974 · 30% of the composite
The Scaling pillar captures scaleup status, headcount growth and accelerator attendance. At 961, Leicester's Scaling score is 39 points below the UK benchmark, the smallest gap of the four pillars, and it ranks 310th of 360 authorities.
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 901–927 · 30% of the composite
Investment covers equity raisers, equity raised and first-time raisers in the last five years. Leicester scores 914 here, 86 points below the UK benchmark, ranking 307th of 360 authorities and outperforming 14.7% of them.
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
945
Well below average nationally
800UK 1,0001,700+
−55 points against the UK · Likely range 935–955 · 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. Leicester scores 945, ranking 340th of 361 authorities and outperforming just 5.8%, making this the pillar where it sits furthest down the national rankings.
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 Leicestershire
The chart below places Leicester's composite score alongside its Leicestershire neighbours, where it ranks 7th of the county's 8 authorities, 32 points below county leader North West Leicestershire (1,038).
Leicester scores 937 on the UK Local Growth Index composite, placing it 339th of 361 local authorities and 63 points below the UK benchmark of 1,000.
How does Leicester compare with the rest of Leicestershire?
Leicester ranks 7th of the 8 authorities in Leicestershire and sits 32 points below the county average of 969. North West Leicestershire leads the county with a score of 1,038.
How does Leicester compare with the East Midlands?
Leicester scores 35 points below the East Midlands regional average of 972 and ranks 32nd of the region's 35 authorities.
Which pillar is Leicester's strongest?
Scaling is Leicester's closest pillar to the UK benchmark, scoring 961, just 39 points below the national reference point of 1,000.
Which pillar is Leicester's weakest in national rankings?
On ESG, Leicester ranks 340th of 361 authorities, outperforming only 5.8% of local authorities. The ESG pillar covers clean energy activity, green activity, environmental accolades, social and governance signals, and not-for-profit proxy status.
How many companies are counted in Leicester's score?
The score is based on 26,616 active companies in Leicester, with corporate groups counted once rather than as each of their registered entities.
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.
