Oldham scores 937 on the UK Local Growth Index, placing it 336th of 361 local authorities and 63 points below the UK benchmark of 1,000. Its strongest result is on Scaling, where the gap to the UK average narrows to 20 points. Innovation and Investment are the areas where Oldham trails the benchmark most noticeably.
Each score is calculated as an average across the authority's active companies, with corporate groups counted once. That approach means a large authority does not automatically outscore a smaller one, making the index a fair comparison between places of very different sizes.
The UK as a whole scores 1,000, so any authority at 1,000 is precisely at the national average. At 937, Oldham sits below that benchmark. Every score also carries a likely range, which shows how much the figure could shift with a slightly different mix of companies; Oldham's composite range of 928 to 946 is narrow enough that the score can be relied on.
North 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%.
How Oldham's composite score of 937 is built up, pillar by pillar.
Innovation
923
Well below average nationally
800UK 1,0001,700+
−77 points against the UK · Likely range 910–936 · 30% of the composite
Innovation captures patents, R&D grant value, academic spinout status, presence in innovative sectors, and coverage across the IS-8 priority sectors. Oldham ranks 337th of 361 authorities on this pillar, scoring 77 points below the UK benchmark, and outperforms only 6.6% of authorities. That places Innovation as the area with the most ground to close relative to the national average.
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
980
Below average nationally
800UK 1,0001,700+
−20 points against the UK · Likely range 962–998 · 30% of the composite
Scaling measures scaleup status, headcount growth and accelerator participation across a place's companies. At 980, Oldham is 20 points below the UK benchmark and ranks 254th of 360 authorities, outperforming 29.4% of peers. This is Oldham's strongest pillar and the one closest to the national average, sitting in the upper half of Oldham's own score distribution.
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
905
Well below average nationally
800UK 1,0001,700+
−95 points against the UK · Likely range 888–922 · 30% of the composite
Investment covers whether companies have raised equity in the last five years, how much they raised, and whether any made their first-ever equity deal in that period. Oldham scores 905 on this pillar, 95 points below the UK benchmark, and ranks 334th of 360 authorities. That gap is the widest of any pillar in absolute terms, suggesting equity activity among local companies is relatively limited.
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
949
Well below average nationally
800UK 1,0001,700+
−51 points against the UK · Likely range 936–962 · 10% of the composite
ESG reflects clean energy activity, other green activity, environmental accolades, social and governance signals, and not-for-profit proxy status. Oldham scores 949 here, 51 points below the UK benchmark, and ranks 331st of 361 authorities. Although this pillar carries the lightest weight in the composite, the result is still below the national average.
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 Greater Manchester
The chart below sets Oldham's composite score of 937 alongside its neighbours in Greater Manchester, where the county scores 976 and the leading authority, Manchester, scores 1,015.
What is Oldham's score on the UK Local Growth Index?
Oldham scores 937 on the composite index, placing it 336th of 361 local authorities. That puts it 63 points below the UK benchmark of 1,000.
How does Oldham compare to the rest of Greater Manchester?
Oldham ranks 8th of 10 authorities in Greater Manchester and scores 39 points below the county average of 976. Manchester is the county's leading authority, scoring 1,015.
Which pillar is Oldham's strongest?
Scaling is Oldham's highest-scoring pillar at 980, just 20 points below the UK benchmark. It ranks 254th of 360 authorities on this measure, outperforming 29.4% of peers.
Where does Oldham score lowest?
Innovation is Oldham's lowest-scoring pillar at 923, which is 77 points below the UK benchmark. Oldham ranks 337th of 361 authorities on Innovation and outperforms only 6.6% of peers.
How many companies are counted in Oldham's score?
The index covers 15,078 active companies in Oldham, with corporate groups counted once rather than as separate registered entities.
What does the likely range on Oldham's score mean?
The likely range of 928 to 946 shows how much Oldham's composite score could shift with a slightly different mix of companies. Because that range is narrow, the score is considered reliable enough to publish.
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.
