Arup has reported a 50% leap in profit in its latest set of accounts, thanks partly to rapid expansion in European markets.

The engineering giant reported a pre-tax profit of £30.8m for the year ended March 2007, compared with £21m last time out. The company’s global turnover rose 21% to £572.4m.

The company’s eight directors shared a sum of £2.4m, with the highest paid receiving £311,000.

David Whittleton, Arup’s commercial director, said: “Our record results were delivered through strong performance in all of our business sectors and without acquisitions.”

The company did £275.5m of its business in the UK, representing about half of its total sales. Projects included the £1bn regeneration of Battersea power station, the £1.1bn development of the East London Line, and a five-year, £65m project for Kingston university.

Arup’s European turnover more than doubled, reaching £64m compared with £26m last year.

In Europe, Arup is involved in a €2.34bn project to build motorways in Portugal

In the European market, Arup is involved in a *2.34bn (£1.68bn) project to build motorways in northern and central Portugal, and the redevelopment of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.

Asia, where Arup’s workload includes the Beijing Olympics, is the firm’s largest overseas market with £87.7m of turnover.

The company’s Asian projects include the 80,000-seat Beijing National Stadium for the Olympic site.

The company is also working on Dongtan, an eco-city in China that will accommodate 10,000 people.

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