Innovation and growth
Published:
29 October 2026
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Data on conditions to help promote innovation and economic growth in UK local authorities, measured by each area’s productivity level, ‘new economy’ jobs, and economically-active residents with postgraduate qualifications.
Visualisation
‘Index of innovation and growth’, by local authority (UK)
205 local authority areas in the UK are put into 7 groups – from ‘most favourable’ to ‘least favourable’ conditions – based on their ‘index of innovation and growth’ composite scores. The categories are not equally sized – the middle category is larger because most local authorities are very near the average.
Data
| Region | 2018 to 2025 | 2012 to 2017 | 2006 to 2011 | 2000 to 2005 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Index of 'innovation and growth' ('Z-scores') | Group | Index of 'innovation and growth' ('Z-scores') | Group | Index of 'innovation and growth' ('Z-scores') | Group | Index of 'innovation and growth' ('Z-scores') | Group | |
| Aberdeen City | 1.06 | Top 5-15% | 1.12 | Top 5-15% | 1.44 | Top 5-15% | 1.24 | Top 5-15% |
| Aberdeenshire | 0.21 | 30-70% | 0.17 | 30-70% | 0.27 | 30-70% | 0.07 | 30-70% |
| Angus | -0.32 | 30-70% | -0.70 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.46 | 30-70% | -0.62 | Bottom 30-15% |
| Argyll and Bute Islands | -1.05 | Bottom 15-5% | 0.31 | 30-70% | -0.42 | 30-70% | -0.72 | Bottom 30-15% |
| Barking and Dagenham | -0.62 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.78 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.60 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.66 | Bottom 30-15% |
| Barnet | 1.40 | Top 5-15% | 1.41 | Top 5-15% | 1.46 | Top 5-15% | 1.10 | Top 5-15% |
| Barnsley | -1.18 | Bottom 15-5% | -1.07 | Bottom 15-5% | -1.02 | Bottom 15-5% | -1.17 | Bottom 15-5% |
| Bath and North East Somerset | 0.72 | Top 15-30% | 0.79 | Top 15-30% | 0.56 | Top 15-30% | 1.08 | Top 5-15% |
| Bedford | -0.21 | 30-70% | 0.41 | 30-70% | 0.26 | 30-70% | 0.80 | Top 15-30% |
| Bexley | 0.71 | Top 15-30% | -0.14 | 30-70% | -0.36 | 30-70% | -0.38 | 30-70% |
| Birmingham | -0.02 | 30-70% | -0.43 | 30-70% | -0.13 | 30-70% | -0.06 | 30-70% |
| Blackburn with Darwen | -1.23 | Bottom 15-5% | -0.76 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.67 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.91 | Bottom 30-15% |
| Blackpool | -1.20 | Bottom 15-5% | -0.85 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.96 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.85 | Bottom 30-15% |
| Blaenau Gwent | -1.28 | Bottom 15-5% | -1.52 | Bottom 5% | -1.17 | Bottom 15-5% | -1.17 | Bottom 15-5% |
| Bolton | -0.76 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.57 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.34 | 30-70% | -0.81 | Bottom 30-15% |
| Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole | -0.16 | 30-70% | 0.04 | 30-70% | -0.32 | 30-70% | -0.43 | 30-70% |
| Bracknell Forest | 0.96 | Top 15-30% | 0.94 | Top 15-30% | 0.92 | Top 15-30% | 0.73 | Top 15-30% |
| Bradford | -0.51 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.62 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.57 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.50 | Bottom 30-15% |
| Brent | 1.01 | Top 5-15% | 0.54 | Top 15-30% | 0.46 | 30-70% | 0.46 | 30-70% |
| Bridgend | -0.27 | 30-70% | -0.38 | 30-70% | -0.29 | 30-70% | -0.59 | Bottom 30-15% |
| Brighton and Hove | 0.93 | Top 15-30% | 1.38 | Top 5-15% | 1.04 | Top 5-15% | 1.52 | Top 5% |
| Bristol, City of | 1.34 | Top 5-15% | 1.13 | Top 5-15% | 1.06 | Top 5-15% | 1.23 | Top 5-15% |
| Bromley | 1.07 | Top 5-15% | 1.04 | Top 5-15% | 0.40 | 30-70% | 0.65 | Top 15-30% |
| Buckinghamshire | 0.32 | 30-70% | 0.59 | Top 15-30% | 0.42 | 30-70% | 0.72 | Top 15-30% |
| Bury | -0.28 | 30-70% | 0.11 | 30-70% | -0.50 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.35 | 30-70% |
| Caerphilly | -0.60 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.58 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.92 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.67 | Bottom 30-15% |
| Calderdale | -0.40 | 30-70% | 0.06 | 30-70% | -0.10 | 30-70% | -0.27 | 30-70% |
| Cambridgeshire CC | 0.98 | Top 15-30% | 1.51 | Top 5% | 1.62 | Top 5% | 1.03 | Top 5-15% |
| Camden and City of London | 3.61 | Top 5% | 6.45 | Top 5% | 6.79 | Top 5% | 6.84 | Top 5% |
| Cardiff | 0.71 | Top 15-30% | 1.03 | Top 5-15% | 1.06 | Top 5-15% | 1.45 | Top 5-15% |
| Carmarthenshire | -0.89 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.70 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.21 | 30-70% | -0.26 | 30-70% |
| Central Bedfordshire | 0.12 | 30-70% | 0.10 | 30-70% | 0.10 | 30-70% | -0.07 | 30-70% |
| Ceredigion | -0.31 | 30-70% | -0.51 | Bottom 30-15% | 0.08 | 30-70% | 0.30 | 30-70% |
| Cheshire East | 0.55 | Top 15-30% | 0.66 | Top 15-30% | 0.79 | Top 15-30% | 0.73 | Top 15-30% |
| Cheshire West and Chester | 1.21 | Top 5-15% | 0.61 | Top 15-30% | 0.51 | Top 15-30% | 0.51 | Top 15-30% |
| City of Edinburgh | 1.98 | Top 5% | 2.09 | Top 5% | 1.46 | Top 5-15% | 1.90 | Top 5% |
| Clackmannanshire | -0.03 | 30-70% | -0.26 | 30-70% | -0.39 | 30-70% | -0.34 | 30-70% |
| Conwy | -0.69 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.74 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.70 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.18 | 30-70% |
| Cornwall and Isles of Scilly | -0.92 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.78 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.87 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.81 | Bottom 30-15% |
| Coventry | 0.40 | 30-70% | -0.47 | 30-70% | 0.24 | 30-70% | 0.10 | 30-70% |
| Croydon | 1.08 | Top 5-15% | 0.35 | 30-70% | 0.27 | 30-70% | 0.10 | 30-70% |
| Cumbria | -0.71 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.48 | 30-70% | -0.56 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.39 | 30-70% |
| Darlington | -0.79 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.64 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.13 | 30-70% | -0.45 | 30-70% |
| Denbighshire | -1.06 | Bottom 15-5% | -0.69 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.94 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.67 | Bottom 30-15% |
| Derby | -0.21 | 30-70% | -0.34 | 30-70% | 0.31 | 30-70% | -0.38 | 30-70% |
| Derbyshire | -0.51 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.28 | 30-70% | -0.27 | 30-70% | -0.63 | Bottom 30-15% |
| Devon CC | -0.44 | 30-70% | -0.15 | 30-70% | -0.28 | 30-70% | -0.20 | 30-70% |
| Doncaster | -1.32 | Bottom 15-5% | -1.30 | Bottom 15-5% | -1.01 | Bottom 15-5% | -1.03 | Bottom 15-5% |
| Dorset | -0.79 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.09 | 30-70% | -0.28 | 30-70% | -0.46 | 30-70% |
| Dudley | -0.87 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.60 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.79 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.69 | Bottom 30-15% |
| Dumfries and Galloway | -0.89 | Bottom 30-15% | -1.18 | Bottom 15-5% | -1.14 | Bottom 15-5% | -0.79 | Bottom 30-15% |
| Dundee City | 0.04 | 30-70% | 0.07 | 30-70% | -0.26 | 30-70% | -0.41 | 30-70% |
| Durham | -0.61 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.92 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.53 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.66 | Bottom 30-15% |
| Ealing | 1.09 | Top 5-15% | 0.53 | Top 15-30% | 0.84 | Top 15-30% | 1.22 | Top 5-15% |
| East Ayrshire | -1.25 | Bottom 15-5% | -1.20 | Bottom 15-5% | -1.06 | Bottom 15-5% | -0.96 | Bottom 30-15% |
| East Dunbartonshire | 0.60 | Top 15-30% | -0.02 | 30-70% | 0.38 | 30-70% | 0.65 | Top 15-30% |
| East Lothian | 0.27 | 30-70% | 0.03 | 30-70% | -0.29 | 30-70% | -0.36 | 30-70% |
| East Renfrewshire | 0.29 | 30-70% | 0.54 | Top 15-30% | 0.56 | Top 15-30% | 0.58 | Top 15-30% |
| East Riding of Yorkshire | -0.48 | 30-70% | -0.47 | 30-70% | -0.03 | 30-70% | -0.40 | 30-70% |
| East Sussex CC | -0.57 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.50 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.46 | 30-70% | -0.24 | 30-70% |
| Enfield | 0.30 | 30-70% | 0.49 | 30-70% | 0.06 | 30-70% | 0.14 | 30-70% |
| Essex | -0.32 | 30-70% | -0.37 | 30-70% | -0.42 | 30-70% | -0.29 | 30-70% |
| Falkirk | -0.14 | 30-70% | -0.35 | 30-70% | -0.34 | 30-70% | -0.86 | Bottom 30-15% |
| Fife | -0.25 | 30-70% | -0.08 | 30-70% | -0.24 | 30-70% | -0.26 | 30-70% |
| Flintshire | -0.25 | 30-70% | -0.53 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.47 | 30-70% | -0.59 | Bottom 30-15% |
| Gateshead | -0.84 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.64 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.48 | 30-70% | -0.54 | Bottom 30-15% |
| Glasgow City | 0.48 | 30-70% | 0.47 | 30-70% | 0.46 | 30-70% | 0.50 | Top 15-30% |
| Gloucestershire CC | 0.28 | 30-70% | 0.29 | 30-70% | 0.31 | 30-70% | 0.24 | 30-70% |
| Greenwich | 0.87 | Top 15-30% | 0.72 | Top 15-30% | 0.85 | Top 15-30% | 0.43 | 30-70% |
| Gwynedd | -0.69 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.42 | 30-70% | -0.52 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.66 | Bottom 30-15% |
| Hackney | 1.99 | Top 5% | 1.35 | Top 5-15% | 1.15 | Top 5-15% | 1.40 | Top 5-15% |
| Halton | -0.24 | 30-70% | -0.82 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.56 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.61 | Bottom 30-15% |
| Hammersmith and Fulham | 2.41 | Top 5% | 1.71 | Top 5% | 1.74 | Top 5% | 2.06 | Top 5% |
| Hampshire | 0.39 | 30-70% | 0.54 | Top 15-30% | 0.30 | 30-70% | 0.43 | 30-70% |
| Haringey | 1.24 | Top 5-15% | 1.09 | Top 5-15% | 1.08 | Top 5-15% | 1.50 | Top 5-15% |
| Harrow | 1.09 | Top 5-15% | 0.81 | Top 15-30% | 0.96 | Top 15-30% | 1.19 | Top 5-15% |
| Hartlepool | -1.08 | Bottom 15-5% | -1.25 | Bottom 15-5% | -0.59 | Bottom 30-15% | -1.03 | Bottom 15-5% |
| Havering | 0.09 | 30-70% | -0.19 | 30-70% | -0.69 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.66 | Bottom 30-15% |
| Herefordshire, County of | -0.81 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.45 | 30-70% | -0.56 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.74 | Bottom 30-15% |
| Hertfordshire CC | 0.60 | Top 15-30% | 0.61 | Top 15-30% | 0.84 | Top 15-30% | 0.72 | Top 15-30% |
| Highland | -0.66 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.65 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.42 | 30-70% | -0.49 | 30-70% |
| Hillingdon | 0.69 | Top 15-30% | 0.62 | Top 15-30% | 0.21 | 30-70% | 0.46 | 30-70% |
| Hounslow | 1.87 | Top 5% | 0.93 | Top 15-30% | 1.04 | Top 5-15% | 0.58 | Top 15-30% |
| Inverclyde | -0.77 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.44 | 30-70% | -0.58 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.35 | 30-70% |
| Isle of Anglesey | -0.86 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.36 | 30-70% | -0.40 | 30-70% | -0.07 | 30-70% |
| Isle of Wight | -0.79 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.06 | 30-70% | -0.71 | Bottom 30-15% | -1.10 | Bottom 15-5% |
| Islington | 3.01 | Top 5% | 2.64 | Top 5% | 3.15 | Top 5% | 2.99 | Top 5% |
| Kensington and Chelsea | 1.40 | Top 5-15% | 1.47 | Top 5-15% | 1.95 | Top 5% | 2.15 | Top 5% |
| Kent | -0.21 | 30-70% | -0.28 | 30-70% | -0.26 | 30-70% | -0.25 | 30-70% |
| Kingston upon Hull, City of | -1.09 | Bottom 15-5% | -0.84 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.67 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.79 | Bottom 30-15% |
| Kingston upon Thames | 1.40 | Top 5-15% | 1.22 | Top 5-15% | 1.32 | Top 5-15% | 1.09 | Top 5-15% |
| Kirklees | -0.36 | 30-70% | -0.59 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.42 | 30-70% | -0.45 | 30-70% |
| Knowsley | -0.76 | Bottom 30-15% | -1.04 | Bottom 15-5% | -1.03 | Bottom 15-5% | -1.17 | Bottom 15-5% |
| Lambeth | 2.16 | Top 5% | 1.83 | Top 5% | 1.40 | Top 5-15% | 1.39 | Top 5-15% |
| Lancashire | -0.41 | 30-70% | -0.27 | 30-70% | -0.29 | 30-70% | -0.27 | 30-70% |
| Leeds | 0.42 | 30-70% | 0.28 | 30-70% | 0.11 | 30-70% | 0.04 | 30-70% |
| Leicester | -0.34 | 30-70% | -0.60 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.45 | 30-70% | -0.05 | 30-70% |
| Leicestershire CC | -0.03 | 30-70% | -0.03 | 30-70% | -0.13 | 30-70% | 0.07 | 30-70% |
| Lewisham | 0.98 | Top 15-30% | 1.27 | Top 5-15% | 0.70 | Top 15-30% | 0.68 | Top 15-30% |
| Lincolnshire CC | -0.90 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.80 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.81 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.84 | Bottom 30-15% |
| Liverpool | 0.03 | 30-70% | -0.06 | 30-70% | -0.41 | 30-70% | -0.49 | 30-70% |
| Luton | -0.48 | 30-70% | -0.54 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.69 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.46 | 30-70% |
| Manchester | 0.82 | Top 15-30% | 0.61 | Top 15-30% | 0.98 | Top 15-30% | 0.78 | Top 15-30% |
| Medway | -0.51 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.64 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.65 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.76 | Bottom 30-15% |
| Merthyr Tydfil | -1.21 | Bottom 15-5% | -0.96 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.97 | Bottom 30-15% | -1.12 | Bottom 15-5% |
| Merton | 1.24 | Top 5-15% | 0.93 | Top 15-30% | 1.48 | Top 5-15% | 1.33 | Top 5-15% |
| Middlesbrough | -0.86 | Bottom 30-15% | -1.02 | Bottom 15-5% | -0.77 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.63 | Bottom 30-15% |
| Midlothian | -0.29 | 30-70% | -0.59 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.45 | 30-70% | -0.45 | 30-70% |
| Milton Keynes | 1.04 | Top 5-15% | 0.92 | Top 15-30% | 0.65 | Top 15-30% | 0.67 | Top 15-30% |
| Monmouthshire | -0.13 | 30-70% | 0.47 | 30-70% | 0.47 | 30-70% | 0.11 | 30-70% |
| Moray | -0.74 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.90 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.91 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.83 | Bottom 30-15% |
| Na h-Eileanan Siar | -1.24 | Bottom 15-5% | -0.29 | 30-70% | -0.67 | Bottom 30-15% | -1.09 | Bottom 15-5% |
| Neath Port Talbot | -0.84 | Bottom 30-15% | -1.20 | Bottom 15-5% | -0.99 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.88 | Bottom 30-15% |
| Newcastle upon Tyne | 0.23 | 30-70% | 0.49 | 30-70% | 0.33 | 30-70% | 0.47 | 30-70% |
| Newham | 0.39 | 30-70% | -0.21 | 30-70% | -0.17 | 30-70% | -0.45 | 30-70% |
| Newport | -0.51 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.34 | 30-70% | -0.26 | 30-70% | 0.12 | 30-70% |
| North Ayrshire mainland | -0.77 | Bottom 30-15% | -1.06 | Bottom 15-5% | -1.08 | Bottom 15-5% | -0.83 | Bottom 30-15% |
| North East Lincolnshire | -1.38 | Bottom 15-5% | -1.38 | Bottom 15-5% | -0.90 | Bottom 30-15% | -1.03 | Bottom 15-5% |
| North Lanarkshire | -0.57 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.83 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.87 | Bottom 30-15% | -1.09 | Bottom 15-5% |
| North Lincolnshire | -0.95 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.92 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.70 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.72 | Bottom 30-15% |
| North Northamptonshire | -0.91 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.64 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.57 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.72 | Bottom 30-15% |
| North Somerset | -0.15 | 30-70% | 0.18 | 30-70% | 0.05 | 30-70% | 0.14 | 30-70% |
| North Tyneside | -0.03 | 30-70% | -0.14 | 30-70% | -0.01 | 30-70% | -0.34 | 30-70% |
| North Yorkshire CC | -0.48 | 30-70% | -0.24 | 30-70% | -0.30 | 30-70% | -0.24 | 30-70% |
| Northern Ireland | -0.49 | 30-70% | -0.43 | 30-70% | -0.44 | 30-70% | -0.43 | 30-70% |
| Northumberland | -0.58 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.65 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.40 | 30-70% | -0.57 | Bottom 30-15% |
| Norwich and Norfolk | -0.73 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.41 | 30-70% | -0.57 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.57 | Bottom 30-15% |
| Nottingham | -0.14 | 30-70% | -0.39 | 30-70% | -0.23 | 30-70% | 0.02 | 30-70% |
| Nottinghamshire | -0.21 | 30-70% | -0.26 | 30-70% | -0.14 | 30-70% | -0.29 | 30-70% |
| Oldham | -0.98 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.94 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.84 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.96 | Bottom 30-15% |
| Orkney Islands | -0.94 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.74 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.31 | 30-70% | -0.69 | Bottom 30-15% |
| Oxfordshire CC | 1.61 | Top 5% | 1.60 | Top 5% | 1.46 | Top 5-15% | 1.53 | Top 5% |
| Pembrokeshire | -1.05 | Bottom 15-5% | -0.91 | Bottom 30-15% | -1.16 | Bottom 15-5% | -1.15 | Bottom 15-5% |
| Perth and Kinross | -0.22 | 30-70% | -0.03 | 30-70% | -0.31 | 30-70% | -0.33 | 30-70% |
| Peterborough | -0.35 | 30-70% | -0.22 | 30-70% | -0.51 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.00 | 30-70% |
| Plymouth | -0.76 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.70 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.28 | 30-70% | -0.78 | Bottom 30-15% |
| Portsmouth | -0.28 | 30-70% | 0.01 | 30-70% | -0.29 | 30-70% | 0.25 | 30-70% |
| Powys | -1.00 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.59 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.31 | 30-70% | -0.34 | 30-70% |
| Reading | 1.80 | Top 5% | 1.57 | Top 5% | 1.62 | Top 5% | 1.74 | Top 5% |
| Redbridge | 0.55 | Top 15-30% | 0.88 | Top 15-30% | 0.72 | Top 15-30% | 0.44 | 30-70% |
| Redcar and Cleveland | -1.30 | Bottom 15-5% | -0.73 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.63 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.86 | Bottom 30-15% |
| Renfrewshire | -0.29 | 30-70% | -0.42 | 30-70% | -0.28 | 30-70% | -0.12 | 30-70% |
| Rhondda Cynon Taf | -0.68 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.86 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.74 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.66 | Bottom 30-15% |
| Richmond upon Thames | 2.36 | Top 5% | 1.91 | Top 5% | 1.96 | Top 5% | 2.34 | Top 5% |
| Rochdale | -1.09 | Bottom 15-5% | -0.86 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.82 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.78 | Bottom 30-15% |
| Rotherham | -0.97 | Bottom 30-15% | -1.13 | Bottom 15-5% | -0.84 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.90 | Bottom 30-15% |
| Rutland | 0.03 | 30-70% | 0.30 | 30-70% | 0.49 | 30-70% | 0.09 | 30-70% |
| Salford | 0.16 | 30-70% | -0.60 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.58 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.35 | 30-70% |
| Sandwell | -0.99 | Bottom 30-15% | -1.18 | Bottom 15-5% | -0.88 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.85 | Bottom 30-15% |
| Scottish Borders | -0.56 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.64 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.68 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.62 | Bottom 30-15% |
| Sefton | -0.61 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.42 | 30-70% | -0.53 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.72 | Bottom 30-15% |
| Sheffield | 0.36 | 30-70% | 0.65 | Top 15-30% | 0.32 | 30-70% | 0.35 | 30-70% |
| Shetland Islands | -1.05 | Bottom 15-5% | 0.09 | 30-70% | -0.47 | 30-70% | -0.19 | 30-70% |
| Shropshire | -0.58 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.57 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.36 | 30-70% | -0.29 | 30-70% |
| Slough | 1.70 | Top 5% | 0.07 | 30-70% | 0.27 | 30-70% | 0.81 | Top 15-30% |
| Solihull | 0.48 | 30-70% | 0.36 | 30-70% | 0.01 | 30-70% | 0.55 | Top 15-30% |
| Somerset CC | -0.69 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.50 | 30-70% | -0.36 | 30-70% | -0.32 | 30-70% |
| South Ayrshire | -0.88 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.57 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.61 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.48 | 30-70% |
| South Gloucestershire | 0.91 | Top 15-30% | 0.18 | 30-70% | 0.16 | 30-70% | 0.39 | 30-70% |
| South Lanarkshire | -0.65 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.66 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.45 | 30-70% | -0.33 | 30-70% |
| South Tyneside | -0.93 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.83 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.92 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.79 | Bottom 30-15% |
| Southampton | 0.78 | Top 15-30% | 0.54 | Top 15-30% | 0.96 | Top 15-30% | 0.68 | Top 15-30% |
| Southend-on-Sea | -1.06 | Bottom 15-5% | -0.19 | 30-70% | -0.50 | 30-70% | -0.73 | Bottom 30-15% |
| Southwark | 1.81 | Top 5% | 2.04 | Top 5% | 1.86 | Top 5% | 1.14 | Top 5-15% |
| St Helens | -0.94 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.96 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.79 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.51 | Bottom 30-15% |
| Staffordshire CC | -0.49 | 30-70% | -0.47 | 30-70% | -0.47 | 30-70% | -0.51 | Bottom 30-15% |
| Stirling | 0.70 | Top 15-30% | 0.41 | 30-70% | 0.30 | 30-70% | 0.78 | Top 15-30% |
| Stockport | 0.10 | 30-70% | 0.46 | 30-70% | 0.04 | 30-70% | 0.06 | 30-70% |
| Stockton-on-Tees | -0.44 | 30-70% | -0.65 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.54 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.52 | Bottom 30-15% |
| Stoke-on-Trent | -0.99 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.91 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.98 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.91 | Bottom 30-15% |
| Suffolk CC | -0.69 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.39 | 30-70% | -0.43 | 30-70% | -0.20 | 30-70% |
| Sunderland | -0.87 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.88 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.91 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.91 | Bottom 30-15% |
| Surrey | 1.16 | Top 5-15% | 1.06 | Top 5-15% | 0.87 | Top 15-30% | 1.20 | Top 5-15% |
| Sutton | 0.87 | Top 15-30% | 0.48 | 30-70% | 0.23 | 30-70% | 0.28 | 30-70% |
| Swansea | 0.05 | 30-70% | -0.08 | 30-70% | 0.08 | 30-70% | -0.01 | 30-70% |
| Swindon | 1.08 | Top 5-15% | 0.50 | Top 15-30% | 0.31 | 30-70% | 0.65 | Top 15-30% |
| Tameside | -0.60 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.87 | Bottom 30-15% | -1.16 | Bottom 15-5% | -0.75 | Bottom 30-15% |
| Telford and Wrekin | -0.39 | 30-70% | -0.41 | 30-70% | -0.32 | 30-70% | -0.72 | Bottom 30-15% |
| Thurrock | -0.40 | 30-70% | -0.49 | 30-70% | -0.98 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.86 | Bottom 30-15% |
| Torbay | -1.25 | Bottom 15-5% | -0.95 | Bottom 30-15% | -1.03 | Bottom 15-5% | -0.90 | Bottom 30-15% |
| Torfaen | -1.10 | Bottom 15-5% | -1.07 | Bottom 15-5% | -0.84 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.52 | Bottom 30-15% |
| Tower Hamlets | 3.52 | Top 5% | 2.97 | Top 5% | 2.67 | Top 5% | 2.34 | Top 5% |
| Trafford | 0.96 | Top 15-30% | 0.85 | Top 15-30% | 0.56 | Top 15-30% | 0.54 | Top 15-30% |
| Vale of Glamorgan | -0.00 | 30-70% | 0.41 | 30-70% | 0.03 | 30-70% | 0.01 | 30-70% |
| Wakefield | -0.70 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.90 | Bottom 30-15% | -1.04 | Bottom 15-5% | -0.69 | Bottom 30-15% |
| Walsall | -1.17 | Bottom 15-5% | -1.09 | Bottom 15-5% | -0.78 | Bottom 30-15% | -1.05 | Bottom 15-5% |
| Waltham Forest | 0.40 | 30-70% | -0.32 | 30-70% | 0.00 | 30-70% | -0.20 | 30-70% |
| Wandsworth | 1.39 | Top 5-15% | 1.87 | Top 5% | 1.97 | Top 5% | 1.39 | Top 5-15% |
| Warrington | 0.12 | 30-70% | 0.34 | 30-70% | 0.25 | 30-70% | -0.10 | 30-70% |
| Warwickshire CC | 0.66 | Top 15-30% | 0.43 | 30-70% | 0.02 | 30-70% | 0.20 | 30-70% |
| West Berkshire | 1.44 | Top 5-15% | 0.54 | Top 15-30% | 0.87 | Top 15-30% | 0.82 | Top 15-30% |
| West Dunbartonshire | -0.62 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.67 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.66 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.86 | Bottom 30-15% |
| West Lothian | 0.31 | 30-70% | 0.03 | 30-70% | -0.23 | 30-70% | -0.36 | 30-70% |
| West Northamptonshire | -0.15 | 30-70% | -0.35 | 30-70% | -0.32 | 30-70% | -0.19 | 30-70% |
| West Sussex | -0.23 | 30-70% | -0.13 | 30-70% | 0.04 | 30-70% | -0.03 | 30-70% |
| Westminster | 3.48 | Top 5% | 4.70 | Top 5% | 5.37 | Top 5% | 4.80 | Top 5% |
| Wigan | -0.72 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.82 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.94 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.82 | Bottom 30-15% |
| Wiltshire | 0.03 | 30-70% | 0.43 | 30-70% | 0.21 | 30-70% | 0.09 | 30-70% |
| Windsor and Maidenhead | 1.49 | Top 5-15% | 1.09 | Top 5-15% | 0.75 | Top 15-30% | 1.54 | Top 5% |
| Wirral | -0.67 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.55 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.32 | 30-70% | -0.21 | 30-70% |
| Wokingham | 2.29 | Top 5% | 1.46 | Top 5-15% | 1.67 | Top 5% | 0.82 | Top 15-30% |
| Wolverhampton | -0.72 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.84 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.60 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.73 | Bottom 30-15% |
| Worcestershire CC | -0.34 | 30-70% | -0.18 | 30-70% | -0.19 | 30-70% | -0.18 | 30-70% |
| Wrexham | -0.75 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.82 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.84 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.75 | Bottom 30-15% |
| York | 0.93 | Top 15-30% | 0.80 | Top 15-30% | 0.28 | 30-70% | 0.81 | Top 15-30% |
Download
For the full download file, see Download the data.
Summary main findings
Data for 2018 to 2025 combined shows that the 6 local authority areas in the top 5% for innovation and growth are all in London:
- Camden and City of London
- Westminster
- Islington
- Tower Hamlets
- Hammersmith and Fulham
- Richmond upon Thames
Many of the local authorities with conditions for innovation and growth in the top 5%-15% are in London and its surrounding counties.
They are also in:
- Edinburgh
- Oxfordshire
- Reading
- Bristol
- Wokingham
- Cheshire West and Chester
Many local authorities with more limited conditions for innovation and growth are in areas formerly known for coal mining and other heavy industries, or in coastal areas. These include:
- North East Lincolnshire
- Blaenau Gwent
- Redcar and Cleveland
- Doncaster
- Merthyr Tydfill
- East Ayrshire
Many areas with conditions for innovation growth in the bottom 15% to 5% of the UK also score poorly for conditions of childhood and labour market opportunities for young people.
When comparing the most recent data with data from 2000 to 2005, there were only small improvements in conditions for innovation and growth. However, there was some progress both inside and outside of London. Any decline was uncommon and usually small.
About the data
Data source(s)
- Office for National Statistics, Labour Force Survey (LFS), 2000 to 2025
- Office for National Statistics, Regional Gross Value Added (GVA) by Industry, 1998 to 2022
Geographic area
UK
What the data measures
This page combines data from the following 3 indicators into a single 'composite' score:
Things you need to know
Areas are based on where respondents lived at the time they were surveyed, not where they grew up.
The unit used for this index is the 'Z-score'. This is a type of statistical measurement which can be used to tell us how likely it is that a region is different to the UK average.
The values shown are not percentages, and the difference between regions cannot be compared in percentage terms.
The Z-scores are used to put regions into one of 7 groups, according to a set of thresholds for each group. See our technical annex for more information on how each area was scored.
We have used the LFS to produce the ‘earnings of young people’ driver in this composite index. This differs from the corresponding indicator in the Social Mobility Index, for which we use ASHE. This is due to a lack of granularity in the ASHE data.
Type of data
Survey data
Download the data
Download full dataset (CSV, 143KB)
This file contains the following variables:
- Measure code
- Measure title
- Chart type
- Area type
- Area name
- Primary split type
- Primary split value
- Secondary split type
- Secondary split value
- Time period
- Value
- Unit
- Split order
Page history
Publication release date:
29 October 2026