Quantity surveyor Gleeds is aiming to break the £100m barrier in fee turnover by 2009.

Richard Steer, Gleeds senior partner, told Building in an interview this week that he wanted to increase turnover from £65m to £100m “within three to four years”. In his six years in charge at Gleeds, Steer has already grown turnover from £30m. The firm’s profit margin is 12.5%.

Steer said growth would be driven by the global expansion of its business. He added: “There is now a growth in quantity surveying internationally. The Americans have never used it before.”

Gleeds’ plans mean that Steer is also hoping to increase staff from 1000 to 1500 – despite acknowledging difficulties caused by skills shortages.