The 11th annual IRTE Skills Challenge awards ceremony took place at the British Motor Museum on 8 September to announce the winners of the competition for apprentices and fully skilled technicians in the coach and bus sector.
Presented by Transport Engineer Editor Will Dalrymple, the awards presentation lunch recognises the progress made by the industry through its vehicle maintenance technicians. The names of the winners and runners-up in each category can be read in a brochure hosted here.
Keynote speaker was DVSA Vehicle Standards Assessor Christopher Thomas, who has worked in the learning and development team and started his career as an apprentice technician. He told the audience how industry partners have again come together to raise the profile of the sector.
Contestants from operators across the coach and bus sector, including East Yorkshire Buses, First Bus, Go-Ahead London, Lothian, Metroline, National Express and Trentbarton, competed in categories covering a variety of bodywork, electrical and mechanical disciplines.
Speaking as the winners of the IRTE Skills Challenge were announced, Society of Operations Engineers (SOE) President Adam Fraser-Hitchen says: “SOE believes in good training and a positive environment where engineers can all get education on good values and keep progressing throughout their careers.
“I am very happy that our sponsors, partners and supporters have left no stone unturned to work to create a competition that reflects the positive values of the industry.
“Thanks to their dedication to this important occasion, we get the opportunity to publicly celebrate the success achieved through the hard work and determination of engineers in this sector who have stood proudly as ambassadors of coach and bus.”
