Aberdeen-headquartered Sparrows Group and SPIE Oil & Gas Services have signed an agreement to work in collaboration on global projects.

The deal will see the companies initially work together throughout Africa.

SPIE Oil & Gas Services provides technical services to the oil and gas industry and is the general maintenance contractor for a number of offshore assets around the world. Sparrows Group supplies equipment such as cranes and other lifting gear.

Stewart Mitchell, chief executive officer at Sparrows Group, said: “Together we are confident that we can deliver seamless and cost effective services to our customers around the globe.”

Yves Compañy, managing director at SPIE Oil& Gas Services, said: “Our companies share the same performance, safety and responsibility values.”

 Oil tycoon Sir Ian Wood’s review of the industry’s future, published in 2014, recommended collaborative agreements as a way to share best practice and costs.