Flintshire ranks 74th of 361 local authorities in the UK Local Growth Index, with a composite score of 1,011, sitting 11 points above the UK benchmark. Its strongest result is on Scaling, where it places 34th nationally, in the top 10% of all authorities. Investment is the area where it trails the UK average, ranking 131st.
Flintshire's composite score is built from four pillars: Innovation, Scaling, Investment and ESG, weighted 30%, 30%, 30% and 10% respectively, each scored against a fixed UK benchmark of 1,000.
Each pillar score is averaged across the authority's active companies, with corporate groups counted once. That approach means a smaller authority with highly active companies can score just as well as a larger one, making this a fair comparison across authorities of very different sizes.
A score above 1,000 means Flintshire's companies are, on average, more active on that measure than the UK as a whole; a score below 1,000 means the reverse. Alongside each score sits a likely range, which shows how much the result could shift with a slightly different mix of companies: a score is only published when that range is narrow enough to rely on.
Wales
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 Flintshire's composite score of 1,011 is built up, pillar by pillar.
Innovation
1,010
Above average nationally
800UK 1,0001,700+
+10 points against the UK · Likely range 980–1,040 · 30% of the composite
Innovation captures patents, academic spinout status, R&D grant value, presence in innovative sectors and coverage of IS-8 sectors. Flintshire's Innovation score of 1,010 places it 89th of 361 authorities, 10 points above the UK benchmark and in the top 25% nationally, pointing to a company base with a meaningful level of innovative activity relative to peers.
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
1,044
Well above average nationally
800UK 1,0001,700+
+44 points against the UK · Likely range 1,012–1,076 · 30% of the composite
Scaling measures whether companies are high-growth scaleups, their annualised headcount growth over three years, and whether they have attended an accelerator. On this pillar Flintshire ranks 34th of 360 authorities, 44 points above the UK benchmark and in the top 10%, its strongest result across all four pillars and a sign that its companies are adding staff at a notably faster rate than the national 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
959
Above average nationally
800UK 1,0001,700+
−41 points against the UK · Likely range 924–994 · 30% of the composite
Investment covers whether companies have raised equity in the last five years, the value of that equity, and whether a raise was a company's first ever. At 959, Flintshire's Investment score sits 41 points below the UK benchmark, ranking 131st of 360 authorities. This is the one area where Flintshire falls short of the national average, suggesting its companies draw on equity finance less readily than those elsewhere in the UK.
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
1,071
Above average nationally
800UK 1,0001,700+
+71 points against the UK · Likely range 1,042–1,100 · 10% of the composite
The ESG pillar reflects activity across clean energy, other green activity, environmental accolades, social and governance signals, and not-for-profit status. Flintshire scores 1,071 on ESG, 71 points above the UK benchmark and 75th of 361 authorities, placing it in the top 25% nationally and indicating a relatively strong profile on environmental and social measures among its companies.
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 Wales
The chart below sets Flintshire's composite score and pillar scores against those of its neighbouring authorities in Wales.
What is Flintshire's overall score in the UK Local Growth Index?
Flintshire's composite score is 1,011, placing it 74th of 361 local authorities and 11 points above the UK benchmark of 1,000.
How does Flintshire compare with the rest of Wales?
Flintshire ranks 5th of 22 Welsh authorities, with a composite score 15 points above the Wales average of 996.
Which pillar is Flintshire strongest on?
Scaling is Flintshire's highest-scoring pillar, at 1,044, ranking 34th of 360 authorities and placing it in the top 10% nationally.
Where does Flintshire score below the UK average?
Investment is the only pillar where Flintshire falls below the UK benchmark, scoring 959, which is 41 points below the national average of 1,000.
How many companies does the Flintshire score cover?
The index covers 5,886 active companies in Flintshire, with corporate groups counted once rather than as individual registered entities.
What does the likely range mean for Flintshire's score?
The likely range of 990 to 1,032 shows how much the composite score could shift with a slightly different mix of companies. Because that range is narrow enough to rely on, the score is published.
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.
