Local Growth, National Vision: How County Councils Align with the UK Government’s Industrial Strategy
The UK’s economy is changing. From life-saving biotech to exciting developments in energy and manufacturing, the Government’s Industrial Strategy highlights eight high-growth sectors (IS-8) shaping the future of work, investment, and regional development. But national strategy can only become practical through local action, and this is where the UK’s county councils play a crucial role.
Using data from Beauhurst, we’ve mapped out how each of the CCN councils align with the IS-8 industrial sectors. The result is a snapshot of where growth is happening now, which companies are leading innovation, and where it’s likely to emerge next.
What are the IS-8 sectors?
The government’s strategy focuses on eight industries:
- Advanced Manufacturing
- Clean Energy
- Creative Industries
- Defence
- Digital and Technologies
- Financial Services
- Life Sciences
- Professional and Business Services
How are IS-8 companies spread across UK counties?
Across the UK, 2.5 million companies now fall into at least one of these IS-8 sectors, representing a broad ecosystem of innovation, productivity, and specialist skills. The County Councils Network is made up of 20 county councils in England and 18 county unitary authorities.
By examining the distribution of these companies at a council level, we can start to see where new clusters are forming, which regions are attracting equity investment, and how local economic strengths connect with national priorities.
North West
Cumberland Council
There are currently 3.08k companies headquartered in Cumberland Council that fall into one of the UK’s modern industrial sectors. Looking at companies that have received equity funding, digital and technologies company Grain has brought in the most investment into the area — £144m.
Grain is followed by professional and business services company Citadel Homes (£8.61m raised) and financial services company Truly Independent (£2.35m).
The average reported turnover for IS-8 companies in this council is £4.47m, and the total reported turnover is £669m.
Lancashire County Council
Across Lancashire Council, there are 36.5k companies operating within the UK’s key modern industrial sectors. Equity-backed firms in the area are led by digital and tech and financial services business Tandem, which has raised £362m to date. Tandem is developing an online retail bank with a focus on green finance, including green fixed and instant access savings accounts.
The next largest total raised equity came from Oplo in financial services at £130m which was later acquired by Tandem. Then in third place is Pure Leisure with £59.0m.
IS-8 firms in the region average around £22.6m in turnover, contributing to a total reported turnover of £28.5b.
Cheshire East Council
Cheshire East Council is home to 14.0k companies that fall under UK industrial sector classifications. The top equity recipient is digital and technologies business NScale, which has secured £466m. Following this, life sciences company F2G has raised £283m, and professional and business services firm Radius received £150m.
IS-8 businesses here average £25.3m turnover, with the total figure across these companies reaching £14.06b. IS-8 companies in this area employ on average 11 people.
Westmorland and Furness Council
There are 3.69k industrial-sector companies located within the Westmorland and Furness Council area. The most significant equity-backed business is Map of Ag (digital and technologies), raising £21.8m.
The second and third in terms of total amount raised is from Gilkes Energy in the clean energy space (£15.2m) and Lowther Castle in creative industries (£2.81m).
IS-8 firms in Westmorland and Furness Council bring in around £6.29m turnover on average, contributing to overall reported turnover of £1.26b.
Mapping Growth: How Combined Authorities Align with the UK Government’s Industrial Strategy
West Midlands
Shropshire Council
In Shropshire Council, 6.15k companies sit within one of the UK’s modern industrial sectors. Leading the region’s equity investment is Maistro which falls under three of the UK’s IS-8 industrials sectors: creative industries, digital and technologies, and professional and business services, with a total £21.9m raised. Maistro has developed an internet platform that matches marketing campaigns with those who can deliver them (e.g. PR services, design, artwork, advertising, video).
The company is followed by Igloo Vision which also falls into the same three IS-8 industries. The average turnover for IS-8 firms here is £6.50m, and combined turnover totals £1.70b.
Staffordshire County Council
Across the Staffordshire County Council area, 21.7k companies fall into the industrial sector categories. The top equity-funded company locally is Shire Leasing (which falls into the financial services and professional and business services IS-8 sectors), securing £40.0m through just one funding round. Shire Leasing provides funding and lease financing services for a range of products such as security and printing equipment.
Next are Fischer Farms in the advanced manufacturing industry with £29.1m raised, and MOOT in the digital and technologies sector raising £20.5m.
Among IS-8 businesses, the mean turnover is £20.1m, contributing to overall reported turnover of £18.6b.
Warwickshire County Council
Warwickshire County Council hosts around 18.1k companies aligned with UK modern industrial sectors. Of the equity-backed businesses, Quanta in life sciences has raised the largest total investment at £294m. Quanta develops portable haemodialysis devices for clinical and home treatment of patients.
Following Quanta are HarperCrewe (creative industries, and professional business services), raising £200m in one funding round, and Merccia Asset Management in financial services (£40.0m).
Average turnover for IS-8 companies stands at £29.6m, with total turnover reaching £23.4b.
Herefordshire Council
There are 6.84k companies classified within IS-8 sectors in Herefordshire Council. The most equity investment has been secured by digital and technology, and professional and business services company BitradeX with £12.0m. BitradeX develops an AI-based digital asset trading platform. This is followed by Synalogik which falls under three IS-8 industries: digital and technologies, financial services, and professional and business services.
IS-8 firms here show an average turnover of £3.85m with total reported turnover measured at £1.13b.
East Midlands
Nottinghamshire County Council
The Nottinghamshire County Council region currently has 25.5k IS-8 companies headquartered within its boundaries. Among equity-funded firms, Ideagen (digital and technologies, and professional and business services) leads with £181m in investment. Ideagen provides software tools for managing risk and compliance in areas such as health and safety.
This is followed by Phenna Group in the financial services, and professional and business services sector (£100m) and Huddle in the same industries (£55.6m).
The typical IS-8 company turnover sits at £28.1m, and the total turnover across these firms amounts to £31.6b.
Derbyshire County Council
Across the region covered by Derbyshire County Council, 20.4k companies operate within IS-8 classifications. The most equity investment belongs to kwiff, a mobile sports betting app that increases personalisation the more it is used, (digital and technologies), totalling £46.2m.
Following are Nurtur in the digital and technologies sector and the professional and business services sector, with £39.5m, and professional and business services company CWC Group with £21.0m.
IS-8 firms average around £8.85m turnover, with total turnover reaching £7.31b.
Lincolnshire County Council
There are 17.2k companies in Lincolnshire County Council spanning the UK’s IS-8 sectors. Clean energy and digital and technologies business Myenergi has brought in the most equity funding at £61.8m. Myenergi designs and manufactures renewable energy products that are intended to increase the efficiency and sustainability of existing systems. Myenergi sits ahead of Tended in the digital and technologies space (£9.77m).
Average turnover for IS-8 firms in the county stands at £3.71m, with a combined turnover of £2.91b.
North Northamptonshire Council
North Northamptonshire Council contains 8.13k companies identified in the UK’s IS-8 framework. The top equity-backed organisation is Hochanda (creative industries), securing £4.55m. Hochanda operates a television sales channel specialising in arts and craft goods. It’s followed by Retain.me operating in the digital and technologies sector at £3.36m, and Sure System within life sciences, having raised £2.85m.
IS-8 company turnover averages £4.87m, with total reported turnover of £1.40b.
West Northamptonshire Council
Within West Northamptonshire Council, 13.4k companies are recorded across the UK’s IS-8 sectors. Among those receiving equity investment, Perrys in professional and business services has seen the largest raise at £40.0m over one funding round. Perrys operates a chain of car dealerships with locations throughout the UK.
The next two highest are Job Directory which falls into both the digital and technologies IS-8 industry and the business and professional services industry, with £31.5m raised. In third place is Helix (clean energy), having raised £19.3m.
IS-8 companies report an average turnover of £16.8m, totalling £9.20b altogether.
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South West
Gloucestershire County Council
There are 25.8k IS-8-classified companies in the Gloucester County Council area. Leading equity investment is Netomnia in digital and technologies with a huge £1.07b raised. Netomnia provides fibre broadband to businesses and homes.
Gloucestershire has a significant £579m raised in equity so far in 2025. Among IS-8 businesses, the average turnover is £13.3m, contributing to overall turnover of £19.2b.
Wiltshire Council
Wiltshire Council is home to around 19k companies within IS-8 sectors. Clean energy and digital and technology company Ark Data Centres has raised the most equity investment at £150m. Behind it are The OpenWork Partnership (financial services) with £120m, and Enigma Diagnostics (life sciences) with £82.3m.
The average turnover for IS-8 firms in the area is £29.3m, while total turnover reaches £31.8b.
Somerset Council
Across Somerset, 23.1k companies are recognised in IS-8 sectors. The most total investment is in TrueSpeed in the digital technology sector at £175m. TrueSpeed provides broadband and phone via fibre-optic links to houses and companies.
This is followed by investments into Origen (clean energy) totalling £32.3m, and Actual Experience (digital and technologies) raising £1.18m.
IS-8 firms report an average turnover of £8.57m, contributing to £10.6b total turnover.
Dorset Council
Within Dorset there are 30.8k companies associated with IS-8 definitions. The lead equity-funded company is Wessex Internet in digital tech with £65.1m raised. Wessex Internet provides wireless and full fibre broadband to rural communities.
Following in second and third are QuBit in business services receiving £49.8m, and OnBuy.com in finance securing £46.4m.
Average IS-8 turnover stands at £4.01m, while combined turnover across these companies is £6.42b.
Cornwall Council
Cornwall currently supports 9.61k companies across IS-8 sectors. Heading the list of equity-funded firms is Kensa Group (clean energy), raising £91.8m. Kensa Group operates a group of manufacturing and installation companies, including Kensa Contracting, Kensa Utilities and Kensa Heat Pumps.
This is followed by Wildanet in digital and technologies with £53.6m, and GEL in clean energy with £31.2m.
IS-8 businesses in this area have an average turnover of £2.10m, adding up to overall turnover of £1.18b.
North East
Northumberland County Council
In Northumberland there are 4.39k companies operating across the UK’s modern industrial sectors. Among the firms that have received investment, digital and technology business Pharos Offshore Group has secured the largest total amount at £7.80m in a loan fundraising. Pharos Offshore Group provides a range of subsea engineering services, including working on subsea cable installation and repair.
It is followed by professional and business services company Cleardata at £5.89m which falls into three of the IS-8 categories: digital and technologies, financial services, and professional and business services.
IS-8 companies in the area record an average turnover of £5.38m, with total turnover of £1.21b.
Durham County Council
Across the Durham County Council area, 12.6k companies are classified in IS-8 sectors. Equity-backed activity is led by Power Roll (clean energy), raising £30.5m across 11 funding rounds. Power Roll develops flexible solar film, with the aim of creating cheaper, lighter and more effective materials for solar power technology.
The next highest raiser is Kromek Group in the digital and technologies and life sciences IS-8 sectors, with £24.0m. The average turnover for IS-8 firms is £12.9m, with a combined turnover of £6.94b.
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Yorkshire & The Humber
North Yorkshire Council
There are 22.9k companies headquartered within the North Yorkshire Council region that fall under IS-8 sectors. The firm attracting the most equity investment is Animalcare Group PLC in the life sciences sector with £50.0m raised. Animalcare Group PLC distributes a range of licensed veterinary pharmaceuticals obtained through its own development pipeline, as well as through partnerships and acquisitions.
This is followed by Peratech in digital and technologies at £44.1m, and Neoss in the life sciences space at £33.0m.
IS-8 businesses generate an average turnover of £33.0m, contributing to a total turnover of £35.3b.
East Riding of Yorkshire Council
East Riding of Yorkshire Council hosts 5.94k companies across IS-8 sectors. The largest equity recipient is the digital and technology company Quickline, with £204m in funding. Quickline is an internet service provider that provides wireless fibre internet to businesses and consumers.
Creative industries and digital and technologies firm Tevalis follows with £12.1m raised, with another digital and technologies business Plate Up following with £2.03m.
Average reported turnover for IS-8 companies stands at £26.8m, totalling £6.30b across all firms.
North Lincolnshire Council
A total of 2.22k companies in North Lincolnshire Council are recorded as part of IS-8 sectors. The most investment has gone to FEL Group (digital and technologies, and clean energy), which secured a total of £1.75m, though the company is no longer trading.
The company currently trading that has secured the most equity investment in the region is The Lincolnshire Kitchen Co. that has raised £150k, and sits in the creative industries sector. The Lincolnshire Kitchen Co. operates a showroom for kitchens.
The average turnover among IS-8 firms in the region is £5.74m, and combined turnover amounts to £391m.
East of England
Cambridgeshire County Council
Within the boundaries of Cambridgeshire County Council, 27.8k companies fall into IS-8 sector categories. Life sciences firm AstraZeneca leads with total equity funding of £2.69b. AstraZeneca researches, develops, and manufactures medicines and pharmaceuticals for a range of diseases.
AstraZeneca is followed by CMR Surgical in the digital and technologies and life sciences space, having raised a total of £1.03b.
IS-8 companies in Cambridgeshire average £50.1m turnover, with a total reported turnover of £82.2b.
Norfolk County Council
There are currently 17.2k IS-8 companies based in Norfolk. The most significant equity investment can be attributed to Tropic (life sciences), totalling £105m. Tropic uses plant breeding and genome editing to develop new crops that are disease resistant and easier to farm.
Also notable are creative industries business Midwich with £91.0m raised, and Glassbox in digital and technologies with £55.7m.
The average turnover for IS-8 companies is £11.6m, and overall turnover comes to £10.1b.
Suffolk County Council
Suffolk contains 21.8k IS-8 companies. Professional and business services firm Servest has secured the most equity investment at £90.0m. The company exited in 2018 when it was acquired by French facilities management company Atalian, it was acquired for £540m.
Following are Fleximize in financial services with £26.6m raised, and Engage in digital and technologies and professional and business services, with £19.2m raised.
IS-8 firms in this area record an average turnover of £7.84m, totalling £7.39b across the council.
Essex County Council
In Essex, 61.3k companies operate within the UK’s IS-8 classification framework. Life sciences company CellCentric, which develops cancer therapeutics, leads equity investment with £248m raised. It is followed by another life sciences company Biomodal (£120m raised) and County Broadband in digital and technologies (£102m raised).
IS-8 firms average £24.1m turnover, reaching £66.7b combined reported turnover.
Central Bedfordshire Council
Across the area covered by Central Bedfordshire Council, there are 10.8k companies in IS-8 sectors. The top equity-backed firm is Cranfield Aerospace Solutions (clean energy) at £23.2m total raised. Cranfield Aerospace Solutions develops technology for commercial aircraft powered by hydrogen.
This is followed with digital and technologies firm Crave Interactive raising a total of £11.1m, and financial services firm Facet Capital raising £11.0m.
IS-8 companies see an average turnover of £5.85m, and total turnover is £2.36b.
Hertfordshire County Council
There are 65.6k companies across IS-8 sectors located within Hertfordshire County Council. Leading equity-funded firms include Wheatley in the professional and business services field with £262m raised. Wheatley operates a property construction company, specialising in new build developments for the residential and commercial sectors.
Spur Therapeutics in the life sciences space has raised the second most equity in Hertfordshire with £233m raised.
The average turnover for IS-8 companies is £48.3m, contributing to an overall turnover of £147b.
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South East
Oxfordshire County Council
Oxfordshire County Council hosts 22.8k IS-8 companies. The most equity investment has been attracted by Oxford Nanopore Technologies (life sciences), totalling £1.01b. Oxford Nanopore Technologies develops a range of portable DNA and RNA sequencing devices, that are also capable of characterising epigenetic modifications.
It’s followed by Immunocore, another life sciences company, at £410m raised, and Nexeon, which falls into three of the IS-8 industrial sectors: digital and technologies, clean energy, and advanced manufacturing.
Oxfordshire IS-8 firms have an average turnover of £9.69m, reaching £13.7b reported turnover across all IS-8 companies.
Buckinghamshire Council
Within Buckinghamshire, 40.6k companies are recognised as being part of IS-8 sectors. Clean energy and digital and tech company GRIDSERVE has raised £623m, ranking highest in total equity investment. GRIDSERVE develops sustainable energy technology for solar storage, with applications including charging points for electric vehicles, as well as operating solar farms.
Digital and technologies firms come in second and third place for equity raised in the county. Africa Mobile Networks has raised £331m, and Envisics has raised £123m.
IS-8 turnover averages £14.1m, with a total reported turnover of £31.6b.
Hampshire County Council
Hampshire has 57.3k companies that fall under the UK’s IS-8 sector categorisation. The most equity investment has gone to cinch (digital and technology, and financial services) at £1.00b raised. cinch operates an online car marketplace that enables users to purchase vehicles with a range of financing and part exchange services.
This is followed by CloudPay (digital and technologies, financial services, and professional and business services) with £235m, and LRG (creative industries, financial services, and professional and business services) raising £138m. Average turnover for IS-8 companies is £22.9m, totalling £75.0b overall.
Surrey County Council
Across Surrey, 54.9k companies are listed in IS-8 sector groupings. Equity investment in the area is led by McLaren Group in advanced manufacturing at £410m. McLaren Group manufactures automobiles, with a focus on racing cars.
Following is Protean Electric, also in the advanced manufacturing sector, attracting £133m of investment, and Banner Homes in digital and technologies and professional and business services with £120m.
IS-8 firms average turnover is £31.6m, contributing to total turnover of £117b.
Kent County Council
There are 56.6k companies in Kent designated under IS-8 sector classifications. The dominant equity-backed firm is Reviral, a life sciences company that raised £116m in equity investment, and has since exited. It was acquired by Pfizer in 2022 for £420m.
In second place is another life sciences company Akamis Bio which has raised £108m. Akamis Bio develops pharmaceuticals against a range of diseases, particularly cancer.
IS-8 entities in Kent generate an average turnover of £7.05m, bringing total turnover to £20.0b.
East Sussex County Council
East Sussex features 35.5k companies recognised across IS-8 sector categories. Equity-funded activity is highest for digital and technologies company babylon which raised £518m in total.
Babylon has developed an app that enables a patient to book and conduct a remote video consultation with a GP and send prescriptions to their specified location. The app also employs artificial intelligence, enabling patients to talk to a virtual nurse about symptoms. The company has since exited when it was acquired by US company Alkuri Global Acquisition Corp in 2021. Babylon saw its share price collapse 99% after heavy losses, its planned refinancing deal fell through, and it ultimately shut down its US operations, entered administration in the UK, and sold off its remaining assets.
Taking the second spot for total investment is life sciences company Enterprise Therapeutics, which has raised £77.0m across six funding rounds.
West Sussex County Council
Within West Sussex, 27.7k companies fall under IS-8 classifications. The most equity investment has been secured by Veryan Medical in the life sciences sector (£56.1m). Veryan Medical specialises in developing medical devices for vascular diseases.
The second and third most investment has gone to Bramble Energy in the clean energy and digital and technologies categories (£48.9m) and Think Better Group in the creative and professional and business services sectors(£41.3m).
IS-8 turnover averages £19.2m, with total reported turnover of £31.0b.
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The Government’s IS-8 framework sets a clear national ambition — but ambition only pays off when local economies can translate strategy into businesses, investment and jobs.
Our county-level view shows familiar clusters (life sciences in Oxfordshire and Hertfordshire, biotech in Cambridgeshire) alongside a long tail of diverse firms fueling local resilience.
For teams designing policy, targeting investment, or building inward-investment propositions, the insight is simple: you can’t manage what you don’t measure. Beauhurst’s IS-8 coverage brings the clarity councils and agencies need — one dataset, mapped to every local area, with funding, turnover and corporate signals attached.
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