Walsall scores 938 on the UK Local Growth Index, placing it 333rd of 361 local authorities and 62 points below the UK benchmark. Its score sits 16 points below the West Midlands county average and 27 points below the regional average. Scaling is its strongest pillar, while Investment is the sharpest drag on the composite.
Each pillar score is an average across Walsall's 14,914 active companies, with corporate groups counted once. Averaging in this way means the index reflects how active local companies are rather than how large the local economy is, making it a fair comparison between authorities of very different sizes.
The UK as a whole scores 1,000, so Walsall's composite of 938 sits below that benchmark. The likely range of 928 to 948 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.
West 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 Walsall's composite score of 938 is built up, pillar by pillar.
Innovation
924
Well below average nationally
800UK 1,0001,700+
−76 points against the UK · Likely range 910–938 · 30% of the composite
Innovation covers patents, academic spinouts, R&D grant value, innovative sector tags and IS-8 sector tags. Walsall ranks 335th of 361 authorities on this pillar, scoring 924, which is 76 points below the UK benchmark, and it outperforms only 7.2% of authorities. That places it among the lower tier nationally for the characteristics the pillar captures.
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
973
Below average nationally
800UK 1,0001,700+
−27 points against the UK · Likely range 955–991 · 30% of the composite
Scaling measures whether companies are scaleups, their headcount growth and accelerator attendance. At 973, Walsall is 27 points below the UK benchmark and ranks 282nd of 360 authorities, its strongest relative position across all four pillars. It outperforms 21.7% of authorities, suggesting local companies are adding staff and hitting growth signals at a rate closer to the national average than the other pillars indicate.
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
913
Well below average nationally
800UK 1,0001,700+
−87 points against the UK · Likely range 895–931 · 30% of the composite
Investment captures equity raisers, the amount of equity raised and first-time raisers over the last five years. Walsall scores 913 here, 87 points below the UK benchmark and ranking 311th of 360 authorities. This is the largest single gap to the UK average across Walsall's pillars, with only 13.6% of authorities scoring lower.
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
946
Well below average nationally
800UK 1,0001,700+
−54 points against the UK · Likely range 933–959 · 10% of the composite
The ESG pillar covers clean energy activity, other green activity, environmental accolades, social and governance signals, and not-for-profit proxy status. Walsall ranks 339th of 361 on ESG, scoring 946 and sitting 54 points below the UK benchmark. Although ESG carries the lightest composite weight of the four pillars, this rank means only 6.1% of authorities score lower.
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 West Midlands
The chart below places Walsall's composite score alongside its West Midlands neighbours, including the county runner-up Solihull, which scores 979.
What is Walsall's score on the UK Local Growth Index?
Walsall scores 938, placing it 333rd of 361 local authorities and 62 points below the UK benchmark of 1,000.
How does Walsall compare to other West Midlands authorities?
Walsall ranks 5th of 7 authorities in its county grouping and 28th of 30 in the wider West Midlands region. Its score is 16 points below the county average and 27 points below the regional average.
Which pillar is Walsall strongest on?
Scaling is Walsall's highest-scoring pillar at 973, ranking 282nd of 360 authorities and sitting 27 points below the UK benchmark.
Where does Walsall score lowest?
Investment is the sharpest drag, at 913 and 87 points below the UK benchmark, ranking 311th of 360 authorities. ESG ranks lowest nationally at 339th of 361, though it carries the lightest weight in the composite.
How many companies are counted in Walsall's score?
The score covers 14,914 active companies, with corporate groups counted once rather than as separate registered entities.
What does the UK Local Growth Index actually measure?
It measures the characteristics of a local authority's companies across four pillars: Innovation, Scaling, Investment and ESG. It is not a measure of economic output or GDP.
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.
