Entry into the IRTE Skills Challenge competition can transform your career as a coach and bus technician or apprentice, according to three past winners of the event.
“It will be something to put on my CV for future career prospects and it’s a focal point to bring up in interviews, inside and outside the company,” says Kelsie Dugmore, winner of the Top Scoring DVSA Inspection Apprentice and part of Arriva’s Outstanding Apprentice Team in 2018.
The Skills Challenge has given competitors at the event confidence in their own ability and a means to progress in the industry.
Graduating to a full technician in September this year, Kelsie was a runner-up in her first year competing in the competition as an apprentice and returned in 2018 to claim the top prize. She is a huge advocate of the competition, active in encouraging other apprentices at Arriva to sign up this year.
Electrical technician Sebastian Choluj, part of a joint-discipline winning Tower Transit team in 2017, and Top Scoring Mechanical Technician from last year, Mitesh Patel, both believe that the Skills Challenge is ideal in boosting confidence and helping to deal with pressure.
“I always try to keep my work at a high standard and competing in this competition helps me to measure my ability against others,” said Sebastian.
Mitesh said: “Winning the competition was actually a surprise to me. I have never really let my confidence get higher than my ability, but the Skills Challenge has let me believe in myself.”
To register your interest in the event, email Patrycja.plawna@soe.org.uk or call 020 7630 2174.
