DVSA CEO puts faith in coach and bus engineering competition the IRTE Skills Challenge
Gareth Llewellyn, DVSA CEO, believes the positive impact of the IRTE Skills Challenge is a clear indication of how coach and bus technicians can help shape the future of the sector.
“In the Skills Challenge we can focus on what the art of the possible is, and we can point to people that are at the top of their game in the industry, and that is very important,” says Gareth.
The best practice culture being nurtured during the competition can find its way into the wider industry, Gareth says, given how the transport sector must now work together to overcome the challenges ahead.
“What I see in the coach and bus industry, we will see in the HGV sector, so it’s really important for us to work with that sector and understand what the opportunities are. There are massive opportunities both in terms of quality and efficiency from the operator, but also how we can transform that into standards, advice and guidance for other parts of the transport sector – it’s a great opportunity,” he adds.
DVSA officially launched the earned recognition scheme in April. Operators which commit to the scheme will less likely be stopped by DVSA, provided they share performance data with the regulator.
“The interesting thing for me – a principal I insisted on – is that the system is meritocratic; if you’re good enough, you can qualify. The scheme supports all operators, however big or small they are. It’s really important this scheme doesn’t favour one size over another,” says Gareth.
The IRTE Skills Challenge takes place from 4-8 June at the S&B Automotive Academy in Bristol.
