North Lanarkshire scores 964 on the UK Local Growth Index, placing it 237th of 361 authorities and 36 points below the UK benchmark. Its strongest result is on Scaling, where it sits just above the UK average. Innovation and Investment both trail the benchmark by a more noticeable margin.
Each score is an average across the authority's 12,197 active companies, with corporate groups counted once. That averaging means a smaller authority with highly active companies can outscore a larger one, making this a fair comparison between authorities of very different sizes.
The UK as a whole scores 1,000, so North Lanarkshire's 964 places it a modest distance below that national reference point. Every score also comes with 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.
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 North Lanarkshire's composite score of 964 is built up, pillar by pillar.
Innovation
945
Below average nationally
800UK 1,0001,700+
−55 points against the UK · Likely range 927–963 · 30% of the composite
Innovation measures patents, academic spinouts, R&D grant value, and whether companies are tagged to innovative or IS-8 sectors. North Lanarkshire ranks 278th of 361 authorities on this pillar, scoring 945, which is 55 points below the UK benchmark, and outperforms only 23% of authorities 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
1,004
Above average nationally
800UK 1,0001,700+
+4 points against the UK · Likely range 983–1,025 · 30% of the composite
Scaling captures scaleup status, headcount growth and accelerator participation. At 1,004, North Lanarkshire sits 4 points above the UK benchmark and ranks 144th of 360 authorities, outperforming 60% of authorities. This is the area's strongest pillar and the closest it comes to matching 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
939
Average nationally
800UK 1,0001,700+
−61 points against the UK · Likely range 917–961 · 30% of the composite
Investment covers equity raisers, the amount of equity raised and first-time raisers in the last five years. North Lanarkshire scores 939, placing it 200th of 360 authorities and 61 points below the UK benchmark. That gap indicates companies here are less active in equity markets than the UK norm.
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
978
Below average nationally
800UK 1,0001,700+
−22 points against the UK · Likely range 961–995 · 10% of the composite
ESG reflects clean energy activity, other green activity, environmental accolades, social and governance signals, and not-for-profit proxy status. Scoring 978, North Lanarkshire ranks 282nd of 361 authorities, 22 points below the UK benchmark, and outperforms only around 22% of authorities on this measure.
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 North Lanarkshire's composite score of 964 sits alongside its Scottish neighbours, against the UK benchmark of 1,000.
What is North Lanarkshire's UK Local Growth Index score?
North Lanarkshire scores 964 on the composite index, placing it 237th of 361 UK local authorities and 36 points below the UK benchmark of 1,000.
How does North Lanarkshire compare to other Scottish authorities?
Within Scotland, North Lanarkshire ranks 19th of 32 authorities, scoring 28 points below the Scottish average of 992.
Which pillar is North Lanarkshire strongest on?
Scaling is its strongest pillar, with a score of 1,004, placing it 144th of 360 authorities and 4 points above the UK benchmark.
How does North Lanarkshire perform on Innovation?
North Lanarkshire scores 945 on Innovation, ranking 278th of 361 authorities and sitting 55 points below the UK benchmark.
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.
How many active companies does the North Lanarkshire score cover?
The score is based on 12,197 active companies, 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.
