South Kesteven

South Kesteven scores 1,001 on the UK Local Growth Index, placing it 95th of 361 local authorities and 1 point above the UK benchmark. Its strongest result is on Scaling, where it ranks 22nd nationally, well inside the top 10% of authorities. The composite sits above both the Lincolnshire county average and the East Midlands regional average.

  • Top pillar: Scaling
  • Biggest opportunity: Investment
  • 7,168 active companies

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The composite score combines four pillars: Innovation, Scaling, Investment and ESG, weighted at 30%, 30%, 30% and 10% respectively.

Each pillar score is averaged across the authority's active companies, with corporate groups counted once. That averaging means a smaller authority with highly active companies can rank above a larger one, making this a fair comparison between authorities of very different sizes.

The UK benchmark is set at 1,000, so South Kesteven's composite of 1,001 sits fractionally above the national average. Every score also comes with a likely range showing how much it could move with a slightly different mix of companies; a score is only published when that range is narrow enough to rely on.

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%.

  • Innovation 30%989Above average nationally
  • Scaling 30%1,058Well above average nationally
  • Investment 30%950Average nationally
  • ESG 10%1,022Average nationally

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Pillar breakdown

How South Kesteven's composite score of 1,001 is built up, pillar by pillar.

Innovation

989

Above average nationally

−11 points against the UK · Likely range 970–1,008 · 30% of the composite

Innovation covers granted patent families, academic spinout status, R&D grant value, membership of curated innovative sectors, and IS-8 sector tags. South Kesteven's Innovation score of 989 places it 128th of 361 authorities, 11 points below the UK benchmark, suggesting its companies are broadly in line with, but marginally behind, the national picture on these measures.

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

1,058

Well above average nationally

+58 points against the UK · Likely range 1,026–1,090 · 30% of the composite

Scaling captures whether companies meet the 20% scaleup threshold, their annualised three-year headcount growth rate, and accelerator attendance. At 1,058, South Kesteven ranks 22nd of 360 authorities and outperforms 93.9% of the country, placing it firmly in the top 10% nationally and 58 points above the UK benchmark. This is the authority's standout result.

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

950

Average nationally

−50 points against the UK · Likely range 920–980 · 30% of the composite

Investment reflects whether companies raised equity in the last five years, the value of that equity, and whether any of those deals were a company's first ever. South Kesteven's score of 950 sits 50 points below the UK benchmark, ranking 157th of 360 authorities, indicating that equity activity among its companies is somewhat below the national level.

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

1,022

Average nationally

+22 points against the UK · Likely range 999–1,045 · 10% of the composite

ESG covers clean energy and other green activity, environmental accolades, social and governance signals including gender pay and director equality reports, and a not-for-profit proxy. South Kesteven scores 1,022 here, 22 points above the UK benchmark and ranking 149th of 361 authorities, placing it modestly ahead of the national average on these measures.

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 Lincolnshire

The chart below compares South Kesteven's composite score with neighbouring authorities across Lincolnshire and the East Midlands.

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 South Kesteven's Local Growth Score and how it's calculated.

Read the methodology
What is South Kesteven's overall score on the UK Local Growth Index?

South Kesteven scores 1,001, placing it 95th of 361 local authorities and 1 point above the UK benchmark of 1,000.

How does South Kesteven compare with the rest of Lincolnshire?

South Kesteven ranks 1st of the 9 authorities in Lincolnshire, scoring 46 points above the county average of 955.

Which pillar is South Kesteven strongest on?

Scaling is its strongest pillar, with a score of 1,058 and a national rank of 22nd out of 360 authorities, putting it in the top 10% in the country.

Where is South Kesteven weakest relative to the UK?

Investment is the relatively weaker pillar, scoring 950 and sitting 50 points below the UK benchmark, reflecting lower levels of equity-raising activity among its companies.

How does South Kesteven rank within the East Midlands?

It ranks 6th of 35 authorities in the East Midlands, scoring 29 points above the regional average of 972.

What does the likely range on South Kesteven's score mean?

The likely range of 986 to 1,016 shows how much the composite score could move with a slightly different mix of companies. Scores are only published when that range is narrow enough to rely on.

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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