Defence services group Babcock International recorded strong trading in the third quarter of the 2011/12 financial year. It is benefiting from a trend for military and engineering clients to outsource work in order to reduce costs and has won preferred bidder status on £2bn of contracts since November 2011.

Agricultural business, NWF Group, based in Nantwich in Cheshire, has recorded a 30% rise in revenue following the acquisition of Swan Petroleum in September 2011 which increased the fuel divisions volumes by 10%. Revenue reached £263.7m for the half-year to November 2011, up from £203.4m in the same period in 2010. Operating profit at the business fell by 25% to £2.4m, down from £3.2m in 2010. Mark Hudson is Chairman of the NWF Group.

The warehouse expansion in Eastbourne has made it possible for Goplasticpallets.com to double the volume of products it holds in stock. The new warehouse is now fully stocked and operational.

Griffin Bros (Dudley) Ltd, a West Midlands-based manufacturer of metal drums, kegs, bins and containers for industrial use, has gone into administration with the loss of 13 jobs. The company has ceased trading and administrators are assessing a number of approaches by parties interested in acquiring its assets.