Towergate is aiming to increase its profits by 25% in 2004.

Executive chairman Peter Cullum said the specialist schemes underwriter achieved a profit of just over £16m in 2003, and was aiming for £20m in 2004.

Cullum said Towergate currently had gross written premiums of £205m, and was targeting £400m by the end of 2005.

Based on these figures he said the company was the "largest independently-owned schemes business in the UK".

The company's growth will continue to be fuelled by acquisitions, which will be funded through what chief executive Tim Johnson described as a £50m "war chest".