WOOD Group has won a multi-million dollar contract to help a pharmaceutical giant develop a biotech plant in Germany which will provide vindication for its decision to complete a £2.2billion takeover of Amec Foster Wheeler.

The Aberdeen-based group has been appointed to provide engineering, procurement and construction management services on a facility in which GlaxoSmithKline will make proteins used in meningitis vaccines.

The contract represents a notable win for Wood as the group tries to reduce its reliance on the North Sea oil services market, in which it made its name.

Moves by oil and gas firms to cut spending on new projects in response to the sharp fall in oil prices since 2014 have posed big challenges for Wood Group.

The contract to work on the biotech plant in Marburg was won by a unit of Amec Foster Wheeler. Wood bought the group, which was based in London, to gain exposure to a wider range of engineering markets and geographies.

Amec Foster Wheeler has been working for GSK for more than 10 years, in countries ranging from Singapore to Hungary.

Wood Group chief executive Robin Watson said the contract represented a significant step towards achieving its growth ambitions in the pharmaceuticals sector.