North Somerset

North Somerset ranks 142nd of 361 UK local authorities, with a composite score of 986, placing it 14 points below the UK benchmark. Its strongest result is in ESG, where it sits in the top 20% of all authorities. Investment is the area where it trails most, sitting 62 points below the UK average.

  • Top pillar: ESG
  • Biggest opportunity: Investment
  • 11,858 active companies

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The composite score for North Somerset is built from four pillars: Innovation, Scaling, Investment and ESG, weighted at 30%, 30%, 30% and 10% respectively.

Each pillar score is averaged across the authority's 11,858 active companies, with corporate groups counted once. This means a smaller authority with highly active companies can outscore a larger one, making it a fair comparison between places of very different sizes.

The UK as a whole scores 1,000, so a score of 986 puts North Somerset fractionally below the national average. Each score also comes with a likely range, showing how much it could shift with a slightly different mix of companies; a score is only published when that range is narrow enough to rely on.

South West

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%.

  • Innovation 30%983Average nationally
  • Scaling 30%1,004Average nationally
  • Investment 30%938Average nationally
  • ESG 10%1,085Well above average nationally

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Pillar breakdown

How North Somerset's composite score of 986 is built up, pillar by pillar.

Innovation

983

Average nationally

−17 points against the UK · Likely range 967–999 · 30% of the composite

Innovation captures patents, academic spinouts, R&D grant value, innovative sector tags and IS-8 sector tags. North Somerset ranks 147th of 361 authorities on this pillar, scoring 983, which is 17 points below the UK benchmark, and outperforms 59.3% of all authorities.

The 5 measures behind this pillar

  • Patents25%See the data on Beauhurst

    Granted patent families filed in the last 20 years, held anywhere in the corporate group (capped, log scale).

  • Academic spinouts25%See the data on Beauhurst

    Whether the company is a university spinout.

  • R&D grant value25%See the data on Beauhurst

    Value of R&D grants received in the last five years: Innovate UK, EU programmes and other grants for R&D (capped, log scale).

  • Innovative sectors15%See the data on Beauhurst

    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.

  • IS-8 sectors10%See the data on Beauhurst

    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

Average nationally

+4 points against the UK · Likely range 983–1,025 · 30% of the composite

Scaling measures whether companies are scaleups, their headcount growth over recent years, and whether they have attended an accelerator. At 1,004, North Somerset sits 4 points above the UK benchmark on this pillar, ranking 146th of 360 authorities, suggesting its companies are adding staff at a rate broadly in line with the national picture.

The 3 measures behind this pillar

  • Scaleups45%See the data on Beauhurst

    Whether the company is a 20% scaleup (Beauhurst high-growth signal).

  • Headcount growth45%See the data on Beauhurst

    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.

  • Accelerator10%See the data on Beauhurst

    Whether the company has attended an accelerator.

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

938

Average nationally

−62 points against the UK · Likely range 916–960 · 30% of the composite

Investment covers equity raisers, the value of equity raised and first-time raisers, all within the last five years. This is North Somerset's weakest pillar: a score of 938 places it 62 points below the UK benchmark and 205th of 360 authorities, outperforming only 43.1% of all authorities.

The 3 measures behind this pillar

  • Equity raisers40%See the data on Beauhurst

    Whether the company raised equity in the last five years.

  • Equity raised40%See the data on Beauhurst

    Amount of equity raised in the last five years (capped, log scale).

  • First-time raisers20%See the data on Beauhurst

    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

1,085

Well above average nationally

+85 points against the UK · Likely range 1,066–1,104 · 10% of the composite

ESG reflects clean energy activity, other green activity, environmental accolades, social and governance signals, and not-for-profit proxies. North Somerset's score of 1,085, 85 points above the UK benchmark, ranks it 52nd of 361 authorities and in the top 20% nationally, making this its strongest pillar by a clear margin.

The 5 measures behind this pillar

  • Clean energy30%See the data on Beauhurst

    Active in clean or renewable energy, or clean technology.

  • Other green activity20%See the data on Beauhurst

    Active in green buildings and infrastructure, green transport, or sustainable farming and food.

  • Environmental accolades20%See the data on Beauhurst

    Has an environmental accolade, including completed Innovate UK clean growth grants.

  • Social and governance15%See the data on Beauhurst

    Has a gender pay equality signal from a report in the last five years, a director gender equality signal, or a social accolade.

  • Not-for-profit proxy15%See the data on Beauhurst

    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 Somerset

The chart below places North Somerset's composite score alongside its neighbours in Somerset, where it ranks 2nd of 3 authorities with a score 10 points below the county average of 996.

Dots share one axis across the site. The line marks the UK benchmark of 1,000; differences are in points.

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about North Somerset's Local Growth Score and how it's calculated.

Read the methodology
What is North Somerset's Local Growth Index score?

North Somerset has a composite score of 986, placing it 14 points below the UK benchmark of 1,000. It ranks 142nd of 361 local authorities nationally.

How does North Somerset compare to other authorities in Somerset?

North Somerset ranks 2nd of 3 authorities in Somerset, scoring 10 points below the county average of 996.

How does North Somerset compare to the South West region?

North Somerset ranks 15th of 27 authorities in the South West, scoring 20 points below the regional average of 1,006.

Which pillar does North Somerset score highest on?

ESG is North Somerset's strongest pillar, with a score of 1,085, which is 85 points above the UK benchmark and places it 52nd of 361 authorities, in the top 20% nationally.

Where does North Somerset score lowest?

Investment is the weakest pillar, at 938, which is 62 points below the UK benchmark. North Somerset ranks 205th of 360 authorities on this measure.

How many companies are counted in North Somerset's score?

The index covers 11,858 active companies in North Somerset, with corporate groups counted once rather than as separate 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.

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