Swindon scores 956 on the UK Local Growth Index, placing it 269th of 361 local authorities and 44 points below the UK benchmark. All four pillars are published, and the closest to the UK benchmark is ESG, just 6 points below. Investment is the widest gap, at 74 points below the benchmark.
Because each pillar score is averaged across a local authority's companies rather than summed, the index reflects how active local companies are, not how large the local economy is. That makes it a fair comparison between authorities of very different sizes.
The UK benchmark is set at 1,000, so Swindon's score of 956 sits below that mark across all four pillars. The likely range of 944 to 968 shows how much the composite score 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%.
How Swindon's composite score of 956 is built up, pillar by pillar.
Innovation
959
Below average nationally
800UK 1,0001,700+
−41 points against the UK · Likely range 943–975 · 30% of the composite
Innovation covers patents, academic spinouts, R&D grant value, innovative sector tags and IS-8 sector tags. Swindon ranks 222nd of 361 authorities on this pillar, with a score of 959, placing it 41 points below the UK benchmark. That positions it ahead of just over a third of all authorities.
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
970
Well below average nationally
800UK 1,0001,700+
−30 points against the UK · Likely range 949–991 · 30% of the composite
Scaling measures whether companies are 20% scaleups, their headcount growth rate and whether they have attended an accelerator. Swindon ranks 293rd of 360 authorities with a score of 970, placing it 30 points below the UK benchmark and ahead of fewer than one in five authorities on this pillar.
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
926
Below average nationally
800UK 1,0001,700+
−74 points against the UK · Likely range 904–948 · 30% of the composite
Investment captures equity raisers, the value of equity raised and first-time raisers, all over the last five years. At 926, Swindon's Investment score is 74 points below the UK benchmark, its largest gap across all four pillars, and it ranks 261st of 360 authorities.
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
994
Below average nationally
800UK 1,0001,700+
−6 points against the UK · Likely range 976–1,012 · 10% of the composite
ESG covers clean energy activity, other green activity, environmental accolades, social and governance signals, and a not-for-profit proxy. Swindon's ESG score of 994 is just 6 points below the UK benchmark, its closest result to the national average, ranking 236th of 361 authorities.
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 Wiltshire
The chart below places Swindon's composite score alongside its neighbours in Wiltshire and across the South West region.
Swindon scores 956 on the UK Local Growth Index, 44 points below the UK benchmark of 1,000. It ranks 269th of 361 local authorities.
How does Swindon compare to the rest of the South West?
Swindon ranks 26th of 27 authorities in the South West, with a composite score 50 points below the regional score of 1,006.
How does Swindon compare to Wiltshire?
Swindon ranks 2nd of 2 authorities in Wiltshire, scoring 33 points below the county score of 989.
Which pillar is Swindon strongest on?
ESG is Swindon's closest result to the UK benchmark, at 994, just 6 points below. It covers clean energy activity, green activity, environmental accolades, social and governance signals, and a not-for-profit proxy.
Where does Swindon have the most ground to make up?
Investment is Swindon's weakest pillar relative to the UK benchmark, scoring 926, which is 74 points below. This pillar measures equity raising activity among local companies over the last five years.
How many companies are included in Swindon's score?
The index covers 10,573 active companies in Swindon, 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.
