Dundee City scores 996 on the UK Local Growth Index, placing it 109th of 361 local authorities and 4 points below the UK benchmark of 1,000. Its Innovation and Investment scores both sit in the top 20% of authorities nationally, while Scaling is the area where its companies lag the UK average most clearly.
Each score is averaged across active companies in the area, with corporate groups counted once, which means a smaller authority with highly active companies can score above a much larger one: this makes the index a fair comparison between authorities of different sizes.
The UK as a whole scores 1,000, so Dundee City's composite of 996 sits just below that national reference point. The likely range of 977 to 1,015 shows how far the score could move with a slightly different mix of companies, and a score is only published when that range is narrow enough to rely on.
Scotland
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 Dundee City's composite score of 996 is built up, pillar by pillar.
Innovation
1,024
Well above average nationally
800UK 1,0001,700+
+24 points against the UK · Likely range 990–1,058 · 30% of the composite
Innovation covers patents, academic spinouts, R&D grant value, innovative sector tags and IS-8 sector classifications. Dundee City ranks 64th of 361 authorities on this pillar, scoring 1,024, which is 24 points above the UK benchmark, and outperforms 82.3% of authorities, placing it firmly in the top 20% nationally.
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 949–997 · 30% of the composite
Scaling measures scaleup status, headcount growth and accelerator attendance. At 973, Dundee City's score is 27 points below the UK benchmark, ranking 284th of 360 authorities: this is the area of greatest relative weakness, with only 21.1% of authorities scoring lower.
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
992
Well above average nationally
800UK 1,0001,700+
−8 points against the UK · Likely range 961–1,023 · 30% of the composite
Investment captures equity raisers, the amount of equity raised and first-time raisers over the last five years. Dundee City ranks 67th of 360 authorities here, scoring 992, which is 8 points below the UK benchmark, and outperforms 81.4% of authorities, placing it in the top 20% nationally alongside its Innovation performance.
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
994
Below average nationally
800UK 1,0001,700+
−6 points against the UK · Likely range 972–1,016 · 10% of the composite
ESG covers clean energy activity, other green activity, environmental accolades, social and governance signals, and a not-for-profit proxy. Dundee City scores 994 on this pillar, 6 points below the UK benchmark, ranking 234th of 361 authorities and outperforming 35.2% of them.
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 Scotland
The chart below shows how Dundee City's composite score compares with neighbouring authorities in Scotland.
What is Dundee City's overall score on the UK Local Growth Index?
Dundee City scores 996, placing it 109th of 361 local authorities and 4 points below the UK benchmark of 1,000.
How does Dundee City compare with the rest of Scotland?
Dundee City scores 996, which is 4 points above the Scotland average of 992, and ranks 12th of the 32 Scottish local authorities.
Which pillar is Dundee City strongest on?
Innovation is its strongest pillar, where Dundee City ranks 64th of 361 authorities with a score of 1,024, placing it in the top 20% nationally.
Where does Dundee City rank on Scaling?
Scaling is Dundee City's weakest pillar: it ranks 284th of 360 authorities with a score of 973, which is 27 points below the UK benchmark.
How many companies does the Dundee City score cover?
The index covers 8,543 active companies in Dundee City, with corporate groups counted once rather than as separate entities.
What does the UK Local Growth Index actually measure?
It measures the characteristics of a local authority's business economy across four pillars: Innovation, Scaling, Investment and ESG. It is not a measure of economic output or GDP, but of how active local companies are across those dimensions.
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.
