Test Valley ranks 13th of 361 local authorities on the UK Local Growth Index, scoring 93 points above the UK benchmark. Its strongest result is on Innovation, where it ranks 8th nationally. All four pillars sit above the UK benchmark, pointing to a consistently high-performing local business economy.
Each score is an average across the authority's active companies, with corporate groups counted once. This means a smaller authority with highly active companies can rank alongside or above much larger ones, making the index a fair comparison between authorities of very different sizes.
The UK as a whole scores 1,000, so Test Valley's composite score of 1,093 places it clearly above the national benchmark. The likely range of 1,064–1,122 shows how much the 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 East
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 Test Valley's composite score of 1,093 is built up, pillar by pillar.
Innovation
1,160
Well above average nationally
800UK 1,0001,700+
+160 points against the UK · Likely range 1,110–1,210 · 30% of the composite
Innovation measures patents, academic spinouts, R&D grant value, innovative sector tags and IS-8 sector presence. Test Valley ranks 8th of 361 authorities on this pillar, scoring 160 points above the UK benchmark, placing it in the top 5% nationally. That result reflects notably strong activity across the innovation measures among its 7,048 active companies.
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
1,076
Well above average nationally
800UK 1,0001,700+
+76 points against the UK · Likely range 1,043–1,109 · 30% of the composite
The Scaling pillar covers whether companies are classified as scaleups, their headcount growth over recent years and accelerator attendance. Test Valley ranks 15th of 360 authorities, scoring 76 points above the UK benchmark and again landing in the top 5% nationally, indicating that its companies are adding staff and scaling at a pace well ahead of the UK 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
1,045
Well above average nationally
800UK 1,0001,700+
+45 points against the UK · Likely range 1,004–1,086 · 30% of the composite
Investment looks at equity raisers, the value of equity raised and first-time raisers, all over the last five years. At 27th of 360 authorities and 45 points above the UK benchmark, Test Valley sits in the top 10% nationally, suggesting its companies are engaging with equity markets at a rate above 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
1,083
Well above average nationally
800UK 1,0001,700+
+83 points against the UK · Likely range 1,054–1,112 · 10% of the composite
The ESG pillar covers clean energy activity, other green activity, environmental accolades, social and governance signals, and a not-for-profit proxy. Test Valley ranks 57th of 361 authorities, scoring 83 points above the UK benchmark. While this is the authority's lowest-ranked pillar, it still places in the top 20% nationally, with companies showing meaningful ESG characteristics relative to the UK as a whole.
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 Hampshire
The chart below shows how Test Valley's composite score compares with its neighbouring authorities in Hampshire.
How does Test Valley rank on the UK Local Growth Index?
Test Valley ranks 13th of 361 local authorities, scoring 93 points above the UK benchmark of 1,000. It also ranks 1st in Hampshire and 4th in the South East.
What is Test Valley's strongest pillar on the index?
Innovation is Test Valley's strongest pillar, where it ranks 8th of 361 authorities and scores 160 points above the UK benchmark. This places it in the top 5% of all local authorities nationally.
How does Test Valley compare with the rest of Hampshire?
Test Valley ranks 1st of 13 authorities in Hampshire, scoring 93 points above the county benchmark of 1,000. The next-highest authority in the county is Hart, which scores 1,030.
What does the UK Local Growth Index actually measure?
The index 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 companies are counted in Test Valley's score?
The score is based on 7,048 active companies in Test Valley, with corporate groups counted once rather than as individual registered entities.
What does the likely range on a Test Valley pillar score mean?
The likely range shows how much a score could shift with a slightly different mix of companies in the area. A score is only published when that range is narrow enough to rely on, which is the case for all four of Test Valley's pillar scores.
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.
