ENGINEERING contractor Babcock International Group has seen its order book for its financial year swell to £13.5 billion after a number of recent contract wins and the completion of its acquisition of helicopter transport firm Avincis.

The 123-year-old firm, which is headed by Peter Rogers and runs the Rosyth dockyard, said first-quarter trading was in line with its expectations and that its bid pipeline stood at £16 billion, including £1 billion from Avincis.

Babcock said: "Our markets, in both the UK and overseas, remain positive as customers seek financial and operational efficiencies and improvements." All resolutions proposed at the company's annual general meeting yesterday were passed.