Specialist driver recruitment agency SMS Agencies, has acquired the Big Wheelers driver training school.

Big Wheelers has training facilities in Reading, Abingdon and Swindon.

Its managing director Edward Handley said: “The link-up with a national specialist driver recruitment agency makes enormous sense for us.

“We are dealing with the European directive on compulsory training which will be adopted in the UK next year. All drivers will be required to do refresher courses and SMS will need to ensure that their drivers are fully compliant.”

SMS Agencies was acquired by David Lake and ex-Blue Arrow chairman Diana Cornish in October.

They supply experienced temporary drivers and have an annual turnover of £25 million.

David Lake, chief executive of SMS Agencies, said: “This is a logical extension for SMS. Edward Handley is a professional in a market that will become highly regulated.”