Challenge Now On To Find Top Bus And Coach Technicians
Bus and coach operators are invited to take part in the IRTE Skills Challenge, which this year takes place on 1-5 June 2015 at S&B Academy in Bristol.
This annual event champions the vital work done by bus and coach technicians throughout the UK and Ireland, and invites operators large and small to test their technicians against each other in a bid to discover the best in the business.
During the event, technicians demonstrate their expertise in a series of mechanical, electrical and bodywork tasks, with a big focus on safety and reliability.
The IRTE Skills Challenge 2014 saw over 60 technicians and apprentices from operators including Arriva, Tower Transit, First Group and Metroline compete in this exciting event, which provides an invaluable opportunity to raise standards across the industry.
Last year also marked the DVSA’s association with the Challenge for the first time, with the organisation sponsoring awards for Top Scoring DVSA Inspection Apprentice and Top Scoring DVSA Inspection Technician.
Alastair Peoples, Chief Executive of DVSA, remarked: “We’re proud to be supporting the IRTE Skills Challenge to identify and reward the industry’s best bus and coach technicians and highlight the importance of vehicle safety and reliability.”
Sponsored by Allison Transmission, Bridgestone, Knorr-Bremse and Shell, the IRTE Skills Challenge has been embraced by operators as a way of promoting their companies’ commitment to skills and training.
Technicians who take part will have the chance to measure their skills against those from other operators, gain recognition for their expertise, and win some great prizes from Teng Tools, as well as a year’s free membership of IRTE for the top team.
Bus and coach operators are invited to enter teams of three technicians/apprentices by 27 March, and the winners will be announced at an awards ceremony in July.
Entry to the competition is free and operators should complete the registration form at www.soe.org.uk/irteskills
