Challenge rewards the highly-competent vehicle technicians that the safety-critical coach and bus industry greatly relies on
Sponsors of the IRTE Skills Challenge Teng Tools believes that the competition raises the profile of coach and bus technicians and gives them the respect that they deserve.
“The competition plays a very important role in creating awareness of technicians and what they do,” says Colin North from Teng Tools.
“A lot of people get on a coach or bus and they don’t think twice about what it takes to maintain the vehicles; it’s very high-tech these days.”
Back for a fifth year sponsoring the event, Teng Tools gifts each competition winner with a set of high-quality tools. Colin believes that on passenger carrying vehicles, safety cannot be compromised.
“The coach and bus industry is a safety-critical environment. When buying tools, you shouldn’t cut corners because that can come back and bite you. It’s partly to educate the people who are paying a high price that you don’t need to in order to get high quality,” adds Mr North.
Known as a showcase for professional development, the Skills Challenge supports the training of vehicle technicians at apprenticeship and fully-qualified levels; it is this groundwork that Colin considers essential.
“I do feel that we have a moral responsibility to support education in the sector. Rather than just selling the product, we should be helping people where we can. Although we’re not involved in the testing, providing the prizes gives that incentive,” says Mr North.
For more information about the IRTE Skills Challenge, go to www.soe.org.uk/event/skills-challenge.html
