Engineering consultant Hyder Consulting has posted a 2.2% increase in pre-tax profit from 拢5.5m to 拢5.7m in the six months to 30 September 2008.

Turnover was up 39% from 拢108.7m to 拢151.6m, thanks to a strong performance in the Middle East and Asia Pacific regions. The overall operating margin fell from 7.3% to 7%.

Net debt at 30 September was 拢8.7m, compared with 拢11.1m in 2007, which gives the company headroom of about 拢30m on its long-term debt facility. Its order book grew 29% to 拢346m.

Turnover grew 16% in the UK and Europe from 拢55.9m to 拢65m, while the figure rocketed by 80% in the Middle East from 拢24.3m to 拢43.7m.