South Oxfordshire ranks 23rd of 361 local authorities on the UK Local Growth Index, with a composite score of 1,062, placing it 62 points above the UK benchmark. Innovation is its strongest pillar, ranking 18th nationally and sitting in the top 5% of all authorities. All four pillars are published and all sit above the UK benchmark of 1,000.
The composite score for South Oxfordshire 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 9,466 active companies, with corporate groups counted once. That averaging means a place with fewer but more innovative or high-growth companies can score just as highly as a larger economy, making this a fair comparison between authorities of very different sizes.
The UK benchmark is set at 1,000, so South Oxfordshire's composite score of 1,062 places it meaningfully above the national average. Alongside every score, the index publishes a likely range showing how much the score could shift with a slightly different mix of companies; a score is only shown when that range is narrow enough to rely on, and all four of South Oxfordshire's pillar scores meet that threshold.
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 South Oxfordshire's composite score of 1,062 is built up, pillar by pillar.
Innovation
1,103
Well above average nationally
800UK 1,0001,700+
+103 points against the UK · Likely range 1,073–1,133 · 30% of the composite
Innovation covers patents, academic spinouts, R&D grant value, innovative sector tagging and IS-8 sector tagging. South Oxfordshire ranks 18th of 361 authorities on this pillar, scoring 103 points above the UK benchmark, placing it in the top 5% nationally. That result points to a local company base that is notably active on measures such as granted patent families and R&D grant receipts relative to most of the country.
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
1,014
Above average nationally
800UK 1,0001,700+
+14 points against the UK · Likely range 990–1,038 · 30% of the composite
The Scaling pillar captures whether companies meet the 20% scaleup threshold, their annualised three-year headcount growth rate, and whether they have attended an accelerator. South Oxfordshire ranks 96th of 360 on this pillar, 14 points above the UK benchmark. While still ahead of the national average, this is the district's relatively weaker pillar compared with Innovation and Investment.
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
1,067
Well above average nationally
800UK 1,0001,700+
+67 points against the UK · Likely range 1,029–1,105 · 30% of the composite
Investment measures whether companies raised equity in the last five years, the amount raised, and whether a company completed its first-ever equity deal in that period. South Oxfordshire ranks 21st of 360 on this pillar, sitting 67 points above the UK benchmark and in the top 10% of all authorities. That puts it among the strongest authorities in England for equity activity relative to its company base.
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
1,063
Above average nationally
800UK 1,0001,700+
+63 points against the UK · Likely range 1,040–1,086 · 10% of the composite
The ESG pillar covers clean energy activity, other green activity, environmental accolades, social and governance signals, and a not-for-profit proxy. South Oxfordshire scores 63 points above the UK benchmark here, ranking 84th of 361 and placing in the top quarter of all authorities. That suggests a company base with a solid but not exceptional profile on environmental and social measures relative to peers.
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 Oxfordshire
The chart below places South Oxfordshire's composite score alongside its Oxfordshire neighbours, where it ranks 4th of the 5 authorities in the county, sitting 106 points below the county average of 1,168.
What is South Oxfordshire's UK Local Growth Index score?
South Oxfordshire has a composite score of 1,062, which is 62 points above the UK benchmark of 1,000. It ranks 23rd of 361 local authorities nationally.
How does South Oxfordshire compare with the rest of Oxfordshire?
South Oxfordshire ranks 4th of the 5 Oxfordshire authorities, scoring 106 points below the county average of 1,168. Oxford is the county's highest-scoring authority with a score of 1,400.
What is South Oxfordshire's strongest pillar on the index?
Innovation is South Oxfordshire's strongest pillar. It scores 1,103 on this measure, 103 points above the UK benchmark, and ranks 18th of 361 authorities, placing it in the top 5% nationally.
How does South Oxfordshire score for business investment?
South Oxfordshire ranks 21st of 360 authorities on the Investment pillar, scoring 67 points above the UK benchmark. The Investment pillar measures equity raised, equity raisers and first-time raisers among local companies in the last five years.
How many companies are counted in South Oxfordshire's score?
The index covers 9,466 active companies in South Oxfordshire, with corporate groups counted once rather than as separate registered entities.
What does the likely range on each score mean?
The likely range shows how much a score could shift with a slightly different mix of companies in the authority. South Oxfordshire's composite likely range is 1,042 to 1,082, and all four pillar scores are published because their ranges are 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.
