Eastbourne scores 945 on the UK Local Growth Index, placing it 317th of 361 local authorities and 55 points below the UK benchmark. Its strongest pillar is ESG, where it sits just above the UK average, while Investment is the clearest drag on the composite. Across all four pillars, Eastbourne ranks in the lower half of authorities nationally.
Each score is an average across the area's active companies, with corporate groups counted once. That means a place with fewer but more active businesses can score as highly as a larger economy, making this a fair comparison between authorities of very different sizes.
The UK benchmark is set at 1,000, so a score of 945 places Eastbourne below the national average across its 6,961 active companies. The likely range for the composite sits between 933 and 957, showing 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.
South East
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 Eastbourne's composite score of 945 is built up, pillar by pillar.
Innovation
937
Well below average nationally
800UK 1,0001,700+
−63 points against the UK · Likely range 918–956 · 30% of the composite
Innovation covers patents, academic spinouts, R&D grant value, innovative sector tags and IS-8 sector membership. Eastbourne scores 937 on this pillar, 63 points below the UK benchmark, ranking 303rd of 361 authorities. It outperforms only 16.1% of authorities, pointing to limited patent activity, spinout presence and R&D grant uptake among its companies relative to the national picture.
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
971
Well below average nationally
800UK 1,0001,700+
−29 points against the UK · Likely range 945–997 · 30% of the composite
The Scaling pillar measures scaleup status, headcount growth and accelerator participation. At 971, Eastbourne is 29 points below the UK average and ranks 290th of 360 authorities. That gap is the narrowest of the three below-benchmark pillars, suggesting that while workforce growth and high-growth signals among Eastbourne's companies trail the UK, they do so less sharply than on Innovation or Investment.
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
906
Well below average nationally
800UK 1,0001,700+
−94 points against the UK · Likely range 880–932 · 30% of the composite
Investment captures equity raisers, the amount of equity raised and first-time raisers over the last five years. This is Eastbourne's weakest pillar: a score of 906 puts it 94 points below the UK benchmark and 331st of 360 authorities, with only 8.1% of authorities scoring lower. Equity activity among the area's companies is notably thin compared with the national 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
1,007
Average nationally
800UK 1,0001,700+
+7 points against the UK · Likely range 987–1,027 · 10% of the composite
ESG covers clean energy activity, other green activity, environmental accolades, social and governance signals, and not-for-profit proxy status. At 1,007, Eastbourne sits 7 points above the UK benchmark and ranks 195th of 361 authorities, outperforming 46.0% of all authorities. This is the one pillar where Eastbourne's companies match or slightly exceed the national average, giving it a modest but meaningful relative strength.
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 East Sussex
The chart below compares Eastbourne's composite score with the other local authorities in East Sussex, where it ranks 6th of 6.
What is Eastbourne's score on the UK Local Growth Index?
Eastbourne scores 945, placing it 317th of 361 local authorities and 55 points below the UK benchmark of 1,000.
How does Eastbourne compare with the rest of East Sussex?
Eastbourne ranks 6th of 6 authorities in East Sussex and sits 42 points below the county score of 987. The nearest-scoring East Sussex authority above it is Lewes, which scores 1,017.
How does Eastbourne compare with the South East region?
Eastbourne ranks 62nd of 64 authorities in the South East and scores 58 points below the regional score of 1,003.
Which pillar is Eastbourne's strongest?
ESG is Eastbourne's strongest pillar, with a score of 1,007, placing it 7 points above the UK benchmark and 195th of 361 authorities nationally.
Where does Eastbourne's Investment score sit relative to the UK?
Investment is Eastbourne's weakest area, scoring 906 and ranking 331st of 360 authorities, 94 points below the UK benchmark. Only 8.1% of authorities score lower.
How many companies are counted in Eastbourne's score?
The index covers 6,961 active companies in Eastbourne, with corporate groups counted once rather than as individual 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.
