Tonbridge and Malling

Tonbridge and Malling scores 981 on the UK Local Growth Index, placing it 159th of 361 local authorities and 19 points below the UK benchmark. Its strongest result is on Scaling, where it sits in the top third of all authorities. Investment is the area where it trails the UK most noticeably.

  • Top pillar: Scaling
  • Biggest opportunity: Investment
  • 9,999 active companies

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The composite score for Tonbridge and Malling 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 district's 9,999 active companies, with corporate groups counted once. That averaging means authorities of very different sizes can be compared on equal terms: a place with fewer but more active companies can score just as highly as a larger one.

The UK as a whole scores 1,000 on this index, so Tonbridge and Malling's composite of 981 sits just below that national reference point. The likely range of 968 to 994 shows how far the score could move 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%.

  • Innovation 30%979Average nationally
  • Scaling 30%1,011Above average nationally
  • Investment 30%943Average nationally
  • ESG 10%1,013Average nationally

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Pillar breakdown

How Tonbridge and Malling's composite score of 981 is built up, pillar by pillar.

Innovation

979

Average nationally

−21 points against the UK · Likely range 962–996 · 30% of the composite

Innovation measures patents, academic spinout status, R&D grant value, innovative sector tagging and IS-8 sector presence. Tonbridge and Malling scores 979 on this pillar, 21 points below the UK benchmark, ranking 159th of 361 authorities. It outperforms 56% of authorities, placing it broadly in the middle of the national distribution.

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

1,011

Above average nationally

+11 points against the UK · Likely range 988–1,034 · 30% of the composite

Scaling captures whether companies are high-growth scaleups, their three-year headcount growth rate, and accelerator attendance. At 1,011, Tonbridge and Malling scores 11 points above the UK benchmark and ranks 107th of 360 authorities, putting it in the top third nationally. Companies here are adding staff at a rate that edges ahead of the UK average.

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

943

Average nationally

−57 points against the UK · Likely range 918–968 · 30% of the composite

Investment covers equity raising activity, the total value of equity raised in the last five years, and whether companies are first-time equity raisers. With a score of 943, Tonbridge and Malling sits 57 points below the UK benchmark, ranking 182nd of 360 authorities. This is the district's weakest pillar and the area where it lags most clearly behind the national picture.

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

1,013

Average nationally

+13 points against the UK · Likely range 994–1,032 · 10% of the composite

ESG looks at clean energy activity, other green activity, environmental accolades, social and governance signals, and not-for-profit proxy status. Tonbridge and Malling scores 1,013 here, 13 points above the UK benchmark and ranking 176th of 361 authorities, outperforming just over half of all authorities.

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 Kent

The chart below sets Tonbridge and Malling's composite score against its neighbours in Kent, where it ranks 4th of 13 authorities, scoring 14 points above the county average of 967.

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 Tonbridge and Malling's Local Growth Score and how it's calculated.

Read the methodology
What is Tonbridge and Malling's score on the UK Local Growth Index?

Tonbridge and Malling scores 981, placing it 159th of 361 local authorities and 19 points below the UK benchmark of 1,000.

How does Tonbridge and Malling compare to the rest of Kent?

It ranks 4th of 13 authorities in Kent and scores 14 points above the county average of 967.

How does Tonbridge and Malling compare to the South East region?

It ranks 41st of 64 authorities in the South East and scores 22 points below the regional average of 1,003.

Which pillar is strongest for Tonbridge and Malling?

Scaling is the strongest pillar, with a score of 1,011, ranking 107th of 360 authorities and sitting 11 points above the UK benchmark.

Where does Tonbridge and Malling underperform compared to the UK average?

Investment is the weakest pillar, scoring 943, which is 57 points below the UK benchmark and the largest gap to the national average across all four pillars.

How many companies are counted in Tonbridge and Malling's score?

The index covers 9,999 active companies in Tonbridge and Malling, 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.

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