WPP reports rapid growth

WPP Group has increased its turnover by 27 per cent, to £5.7bn, according to its interim results statement for the first six months of this year. In the period to 30 June, the group achieved profits before interest and tax of £160.7m, up from £128.9m for the same period last year.

Revenue from WPP’s branding and identity, healthcare and specialist communications division, which includes the design companies it owns, grew by 8.6 per cent. On a like-for-like basis however, measuring only the companies in the division also present last year, the division achieved revenue growth of 22 per cent.

Design consultancies Enterprise IG, Scott Stern, Coley Porter Bell and Banner McBride are credited by the group for an especially strong performance, with Enterprise IG developing rapid business growth for Internet start-ups.