The current holders of one of the top prizes at the road transport industry’s IRTE Skills Challenge are urging their fellow technicians and apprentices to show just what they can do – and boost their careers in the process.
With the annual competition now just weeks away, the winners of the 2022 Judges’ Choice Award say that first time entrants shouldn’t think twice before grasping the nettle and entering the road transport industry’s flagship event.
Technician bosses are also being encouraged to put forward their teams to show off their skills and raise the sector’s profile too.
Each year, the IRTE Skills Challenge puts apprentices and technicians from across the country through their paces, testing their engineering talents and professionalism at a hands-on event held at S&B Automotive Academy in Bristol.
A new category – the Judges’ Choice Award – was introduced last year to recognise an individual or team that stood out from the crowd.
The winners in 2022 were Kieron Briggs, Shaun Kenneally and David McIntyre from Lothian Buses.
And Mr Kenneally said this week that the team was “delighted” to win the Judges’ Choice Award at the 2022 Skills Challenge event because it was “a team effort” – but also because it “recognises what we’ve achieved as individual professionals in our own right”.
He adds: “I’d encourage all apprentices – and technicians – to enter. Getting the acknowledgement of industry experts and our peers has given a boost to our careers and is great for team morale all round.”
Sponsors FCL, Imperial Engineering, Knorr-Bremse, Shell Lubricants and Teng Tools are once again backing the event – and the judges will be on the look-out for some more quick-thinking and hands-on skills from the engineering stars at the top of their game in the coach and bus sectors.
The IRTE Skills Challenge is an annual competition, held in association with S&B Automotive, and takes place between 5-9 June 2023.
Find out more about the event and how to enter at no charge.
To get involved as a sponsor, email IRTEskills@soe.org.uk
