Thurrock scores 929 on the Local Growth Index, placing it 351st of 361 UK local authorities and 71 points below the UK benchmark. It ranks 13th of 14 authorities in Essex and 43rd of 45 in the East of England. Scaling is its strongest pillar, while Innovation and Investment both sit well below the national benchmark.
The index measures the characteristics of active companies in each area, with corporate groups counted once. Because scores are averaged across those companies rather than summed, a smaller authority with highly active businesses can outperform a much larger one, making this a fair comparison between authorities of different sizes.
The UK as a whole scores 1,000, so Thurrock's score of 929 sits 71 points below that national benchmark. Each score also comes with a likely range, which shows how much the score could move with a slightly different mix of companies; a score is only published when that range is narrow enough to rely on, and Thurrock's range of 920 to 938 meets that threshold.
East of England
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 Thurrock's composite score of 929 is built up, pillar by pillar.
Innovation
898
Well below average nationally
800UK 1,0001,700+
−102 points against the UK · Likely range 884–912 · 30% of the composite
Innovation tracks patents, academic spinouts, R&D grant value, presence in innovative sectors and coverage across the IS-8 sectors. Thurrock ranks 360th of 361 authorities on this pillar, scoring 898, which is 102 points below the UK benchmark, and outperforms only 0.3% of authorities. Its companies show very limited activity across the measures that define innovation in the index.
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
983
Below average nationally
800UK 1,0001,700+
−17 points against the UK · Likely range 964–1,002 · 30% of the composite
Scaling captures whether companies are high-growth scaleups, their annualised headcount growth over recent years, and whether they have attended an accelerator. At 983, Thurrock's Scaling score is just 17 points below the UK benchmark and ranks 237th of 360, its strongest result relative to the national benchmark. That places it in the middle of the national distribution and suggests its companies are adding staff at a rate closer to the UK average than its other pillars imply.
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
898
Well below average nationally
800UK 1,0001,700+
−102 points against the UK · Likely range 880–916 · 30% of the composite
Investment measures equity-raising activity over the last five years, the amounts raised and whether companies completed their first-ever equity deal in that period. Thurrock ranks 355th of 360 on this pillar with a score of 898, the same distance below the UK benchmark as Innovation. Very few of its companies have participated in equity markets recently, which is a significant drag on the composite.
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
950
Well below average nationally
800UK 1,0001,700+
−50 points against the UK · Likely range 935–965 · 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. Thurrock scores 950, ranking 327th of 361 and sitting 50 points below the UK benchmark. While this is closer to the national level than Innovation or Investment, it still indicates below-average ESG-related characteristics among local companies.
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 Essex
The chart below shows how Thurrock's composite score of 929 sits alongside its neighbours in Essex.
Thurrock scores 929 on the UK Local Growth Index, placing it 351st of 361 UK local authorities and 71 points below the UK benchmark of 1,000.
How does Thurrock compare to the rest of Essex?
Thurrock ranks 13th of 14 authorities in Essex and scores 27 points below the county average of 956. The next-highest scorer in Essex is Uttlesford, which scores 1,013.
What is Thurrock's strongest pillar on the Local Growth Index?
Scaling is Thurrock's strongest pillar, with a score of 983, just 17 points below the UK benchmark. It ranks 237th of 360 authorities on this measure.
Why does Thurrock rank so low on Innovation?
Innovation measures patents, academic spinouts, R&D grant value, presence in innovative sectors and IS-8 sector coverage. Thurrock's companies show very low activity across these measures, producing a score of 898 and a rank of 360th of 361 authorities.
How many companies are counted in Thurrock's Local Growth Index score?
The index counts 12,482 active companies in Thurrock, with corporate groups counted once rather than as separate registered entities.
What does the likely range on Thurrock's score mean?
The likely range of 920 to 938 shows how much the composite score could move with a slightly different mix of companies. Scores are only published when this range is narrow enough to be reliable.
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.
