Pictured above: Helen Waterfall

Commercial vehicle group Sherwood Truck & Van Ltd has become part of the Guest Motors Group of companies.

The firm, which has dealership sites at Blackwell, near Alfreton, Lenton in Nottingham, Etruria, Stoke-on-Trent, and in Highfield Lane, Sheffield, will continue under the Sherwood banner.

Managing Director, Helen Waterfall, will join the Guest Group as a Regional Director responsible for the four Sherwood locations.

"Guests are a well-known, well-established and respected business, who, like us, have a commitment to the very highest levels of customer service and support. They also have a commitment to the Iveco and Fiat brands, and also, like us, are a family business who share our values and principles," said Helen Waterfall.

"Guests are the ideal partner to help us to take the Sherwood brand forward, and I'm looking forward to working jointly with Guests to further develop our service to customers.  It's a positive step for the business and an excellent opportunity for our team of staff."

Both Sherwood Chairman Terry Waterfall, who founded the business in 1978,and his co-shareholder Paul Hemp are retiring from Sherwood.

"I'd like to thank Paul for the tremendous support he's given to Sherwood - his experience and knowledge of the industry and our business has been invaluable," said Helen Waterfall.

"The business wouldn't be here or where it is today without the dogged determination, guts and focus over the last 32 years from our founder Terry, my father, and a friend to everyone at Sherwood, and I would like to pay tribute to him."

The acquisition of Sherwood was made by parent company Ian Guest Holdings and confirms West-Bromwich-based dealer group Guest Trucks' position as one of the largest independently owned commercial vehicle dealer groups and the single largest Iveco distributor in the UK.

This latest acquisition (for an undisclosed sum) adds Iveco sales and service facilities in Blackwell, Nottingham, Sheffield and Stoke-on-Trent, plus access to three additional authorised repairers in Swadlincote, Newark and Doncaster. It follows an 18-month period which has already seen Guest Trucks take responsibility for additional areas covering Telford and North Wales, Leicestershire and Cambridgeshire. 

It will see Guest Group's annual turnover grow to in excess of £100 million, with employee numbers increasing from 280 to 450. 

Robert Spittle, Managing Director of Truck Operations for the family-owned Guest Group said: "Sherwood Truck & Van is a highly capable and respected dealer, with a strong customer base.  It will form a key part of the Guest Group and allow our customers to benefit from the natural synergies of working with one of the industry's largest and most professional dealer groups."

Between Guest Trucks and Sherwood Truck & Van, the Guest Group now covers an area of responsibility for Iveco which includes East Midlands, West Midlands, North Wales, Cambridgeshire, Leicestershire, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Staffordshire and South Yorkshire.  Its network includes 12 full service Iveco dealerships, supported by local agreements with an additional eight authorised Iveco repairers.