Consulting engineer Arup has reported a pre-tax profit increase of 29% for the tax year ended 31 March 2004.

The company’s financial report showed profit on ordinary activities before taxation reached £10.2m

for the year, compared with £7.9m for 2003.

The figure before charges for staff profit sharing was £18.1m.

Turnover rose from £395m to £409m over the financial year, an increase of 3.7%, of which £206m was in UK markets. Group turnover in European markets outside the UK was £28m.

Other successful areas were Asia, with a turnover of £90m, and America, where turnover was £56m.

Group profit after tax for the financial year increased 57%, rising from £4.2m in 2003 to £6.6m.

Chairman Terry Hill was unavailable for comment on the results as Building went to press.