Southwark ranks 6th of 361 local authorities in the UK Local Growth Index, with a composite score of 1,183, placing it 183 points above the UK benchmark. It leads Greater London's 32 authorities and ranks 2nd across all 33 London authorities. Its strongest result is on Scaling, where it ranks 2nd nationally.
The composite score of 1,183 is built from four pillars: Innovation, Scaling, Investment and ESG, weighted at 30%, 30%, 30% and 10% respectively.
Each score is averaged across active companies in the authority, with corporate groups counted once, which means a smaller authority with highly active companies can rank above a larger one. That makes this a fair comparison between authorities of very different sizes.
The UK benchmark is set at 1,000, so Southwark's score of 1,183 puts it 183 points above that baseline across its 26,096 active companies. Every score also carries a likely range showing how much it could move with a slightly different mix of companies, and a score is only published when that range is narrow enough to rely on: for Southwark, the composite likely range is 1,166 to 1,200.
London
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 Southwark's composite score of 1,183 is built up, pillar by pillar.
Innovation
1,117
Well above average nationally
800UK 1,0001,700+
+117 points against the UK · Likely range 1,101–1,133 · 30% of the composite
Innovation measures patents, academic spinouts, R&D grant value, innovative sector tags and IS-8 sector tags. Southwark's Innovation score of 1,117 sits 117 points above the UK benchmark, placing it 14th of 361 authorities and in the top 5% nationally, pointing to a local company base with meaningful engagement across these innovation signals.
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
1,166
Well above average nationally
800UK 1,0001,700+
+166 points against the UK · Likely range 1,146–1,186 · 30% of the composite
Scaling captures scaleup status, headcount growth and accelerator participation. On this pillar Southwark ranks 2nd of 360 authorities, with a score of 1,166, which is 166 points above the UK benchmark. That puts it in the top 1% nationally and ahead of 99.4% of all authorities, indicating that its companies are adding staff and achieving high-growth signals at a rate almost unmatched in the UK.
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
1,301
Well above average nationally
800UK 1,0001,700+
+301 points against the UK · Likely range 1,264–1,338 · 30% of the composite
Investment measures whether companies have raised equity in the last five years, how much they raised, and whether their first-ever equity deal was in that period. Southwark scores 1,301 here, 301 points above the UK benchmark, ranking 7th of 360 authorities and in the top 2% nationally. That signals a local company population that is actively drawing in external equity capital.
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
1,080
Well above average nationally
800UK 1,0001,700+
+80 points against the UK · Likely range 1,066–1,094 · 10% of the composite
ESG covers clean energy activity, other green activity, environmental accolades, social and governance signals, and not-for-profit proxy status. Southwark's ESG score of 1,080 is 80 points above the UK benchmark and ranks 61st of 361 authorities. While this remains above the national baseline, it is the weakest of Southwark's four pillar results, sitting in the top 20% rather than the top single digits seen elsewhere.
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 Greater London
The chart below compares Southwark's composite score of 1,183 with its neighbouring authorities in Greater London.
What is Southwark's score in the UK Local Growth Index?
Southwark has a composite score of 1,183, which is 183 points above the UK benchmark of 1,000. It ranks 6th of 361 local authorities nationwide.
How does Southwark compare with the rest of Greater London?
Southwark ranks 1st of the 32 Greater London authorities, with a score 162 points above the county average of 1,021. Its nearest rival in the county is Westminster, which scores 1,179.
Which pillar is Southwark's strongest?
Scaling is Southwark's strongest pillar, where it ranks 2nd of 360 authorities with a score of 1,166, putting it in the top 1% nationally.
How does Southwark perform on investment activity?
Southwark's Investment score is 1,301, placing it 7th of 360 authorities and 301 points above the UK benchmark. This reflects strong equity-raising activity among its companies.
What does the likely range mean for Southwark's score?
The likely range of 1,166 to 1,200 shows how much the composite score could shift with a slightly different mix of companies. Scores are only published when this range is narrow enough to rely on.
How many companies are counted in Southwark's index score?
The score is based on 26,096 active companies, with corporate groups counted once. Averaging across these companies means the score reflects how active local companies are, not the total size of the local economy.
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.
