York ranks 38th of 361 local authorities on the UK Local Growth Index, with a composite score of 1,035, placing it 35 points above the UK benchmark. It ranks 1st in both North Yorkshire and the Yorkshire and The Humber region. Innovation is its strongest pillar, putting it in the top 10% of all authorities nationally.
York's composite score of 1,035 is built from four pillars: Innovation, Scaling, Investment and ESG, weighted at 30%, 30%, 30% and 10% respectively.
Each score is an average across the authority's active companies, with corporate groups counted once. That averaging means a smaller authority with highly active companies can outscore a much larger one, making this a fair comparison between places of very different sizes.
The UK as a whole scores 1,000, so York's composite of 1,035 sits 35 points above that benchmark. Every score also comes with a likely range showing how much it could shift with a slightly different mix of companies; a score is only published when that range is narrow enough to rely on.
Yorkshire and The Humber
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 York's composite score of 1,035 is built up, pillar by pillar.
Innovation
1,070
Well above average nationally
800UK 1,0001,700+
+70 points against the UK · Likely range 1,041–1,099 · 30% of the composite
Innovation measures patents, academic spinouts, R&D grant value, innovative sector tags and IS-8 sector presence. York ranks 26th of 361 authorities on this pillar, scoring 1,070, some 70 points above the UK benchmark and placing it in the top 10% nationally. That puts it ahead of 92.8% of all authorities, pointing to a concentration of companies with strong innovation credentials.
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
1,037
Well above average nationally
800UK 1,0001,700+
+37 points against the UK · Likely range 1,011–1,063 · 30% of the composite
The Scaling pillar captures scaleup status, headcount growth and accelerator participation. York ranks 41st of 360 authorities with a score of 1,037, sitting 37 points above the UK benchmark and in the top 20% nationally. On Scaling, York outperforms 88.6% of authorities, indicating its companies are adding staff and reaching growth milestones at a meaningfully faster rate than the UK average.
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
986
Above average nationally
800UK 1,0001,700+
−14 points against the UK · Likely range 957–1,015 · 30% of the composite
Investment covers equity raising activity: whether companies raised equity in the last five years, how much they raised and whether they were first-time raisers. York's Investment score of 986 sits 14 points below the UK benchmark, ranking 73rd of 360 authorities. While still within the top 25% nationally, this is the one pillar where York falls short of the UK average, suggesting equity financing activity is somewhat less prevalent relative to the broader UK picture.
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
1,068
Above average nationally
800UK 1,0001,700+
+68 points against the UK · Likely range 1,047–1,089 · 10% of the composite
The ESG pillar reflects clean energy activity, other green activity, environmental accolades, social and governance signals, and not-for-profit proxy status. York scores 1,068 here, ranking 78th of 361 authorities and sitting 68 points above the UK benchmark. Although this is York's lowest-ranked pillar, it remains comfortably above the national average, with the authority outperforming 78.4% of all authorities.
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 North Yorkshire
The chart below shows how York's composite score of 1,035 compares with its neighbours across North Yorkshire.
What is York's score on the UK Local Growth Index?
York has a composite score of 1,035, placing it 35 points above the UK benchmark of 1,000 and ranking it 38th of 361 local authorities.
How does York compare with the rest of North Yorkshire?
York ranks 1st of 5 authorities in North Yorkshire, scoring 46 points above the county score of 989. The next-closest authority in the county is Redcar and Cleveland, with a score of 990.
How does York compare with the rest of its region?
York ranks 1st of 15 authorities in Yorkshire and The Humber, scoring 59 points above the regional score of 976.
Which pillar is York's strongest?
Innovation is York's strongest pillar, with a score of 1,070, ranking it 26th of 361 authorities and placing it in the top 10% nationally. It scores 70 points above the UK benchmark on this pillar.
Does York have a below-average score on any pillar?
Yes. York's Investment score of 986 sits 14 points below the UK benchmark of 1,000, making it the only pillar where the authority falls short of the national average. It still ranks 73rd of 360 authorities on Investment.
How many companies does York's score cover?
The index covers 9,687 active companies in York, with corporate groups counted once rather than as separate registered entities.
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.
