Companies: AUK   

After turning in profits up by 101 per cent, Aukett Associates, the building design practice, has been re-branded Aukett Europe to reflect its expanding network, reports Helena Keers.

By consolidating its geographic spread across Europe, fully listed Aukett has doubled full year profits for the year to September to £2.05 million. This was helped by a 36 per cent increase in the group's job completions over the year.

Aukett works on office fit-outs, hotels and retail outlets. New sectors identified for future expansion include internet infrastructure, healthcare and pharmaceuticals.

Finance directror Robert Warner judges that Europe provides 'better margins'. Overall, these would have been better for the group last year, but for the impact of start-up costs.

With 15 offices in ten countries, Aukett has been able to up its workload by 19 per cent in the UK and by 107 per cent overseas. There has also been significant investment in new offices and IT systems.

House broker Williams de Broe predicts profits will increase to £2.4 million for the next financial year. The shares rose 0.5p today to 20p.