Arup鈥檚 profit jumps 268% 鈥� with a little help from China

By Lorraine Cushnie and Lorraine Cushnie Lorraine Cushnie2007-02-02T00:00:00+00:00

Projects such as the Welsh assembly have helped maintain high UK turnover

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Consultant cashes in on 2008 Beijing Olympic projects but growth reported in all areas

Arup has posted its best ever financial performance thanks in part to rapid growth in Chinese workload.

The consulting engineer reported a pre-tax profit of 拢21m for the year ending 31 March 2006 鈥� a 268% increase on the previous year when profit stood at 拢5.7m. There was also a strong rise in turnover 鈥� up 10% to 拢475m.

David Whittleton, Arup鈥檚 group commercial director, said: 鈥淚鈥檓 pleased to say we鈥檝e shown strong performance in just about all our businesses and regions in the 2005/06 financial year.

鈥淥ur profitability has improved across the whole of the Arup Group. I can also tell you that in this financial year, we鈥檙e on track for another strong performance.鈥�

China has been one of the main growth areas for Arup this year. It is working on many of the venues for the 2008 Beijing Olympics including the Beijing national stadium and the Olympic Green Convention Centre.

The consultant鈥檚 work in sustainable living has also led to strong growth in profit and it is advising on the Dongtan eco city near Shanghai and the regeneration of the Thames Gateway, Kent.

The UK remains Arup鈥檚 largest area of operations, generating 拢244m turnover. Asia is second, with a turnover of 拢94m, followed by America, Australia, the rest of Europe and Africa (see table).

The company鈥檚 eight directors shared a financial pot of 拢1.7m with the highest paid director taking home a salary of 拢290,000.