The IRTE Skills Challenge 2013 has made a final call for operators to register, with the deadline set for January 31.
Technicians from Arriva, FirstGroup and Go-Ahead, among many others, will be competing in a series of technical challenges this summer in a bid to be named the best in the business.
Sponsored by Allison Transmission, BAE Systems, Bridgestone, Knorr-Bremse and Shell, 2013’s competition has nine awards up for grabs across the disciplines of mechanical, electrical and bodywork, with a separate category in each discipline to award the best apprentice in the business.
Gary Crookes, Group Engineering Training Manager with FirstGroup, said: “As a passenger transport operator FirstGroup is committed to the continuous development of its engineering workforce. I am confident in the skills of our technicians and welcome the opportunity to have them tested on a national stage. I would also at the same time like to promote the outstanding work done by our engineers in keeping our vehicles reliable, legally compliant and safe on the UK’s roads.”
Nick Jones, Chief Executive of IRTE’s umbrella organisation, SOE (Society of Operations Engineers), said: “The IRTE Skills Challenge represents IRTE’s main aims of identifying, supporting and rewarding excellence in road transport. By engaging with the IRTE Skills Challenge operators display a confidence in their own standards and practices, and a commitment to excellence that is worthy of industry-wide recognition. We hope you’ll accept the challenge.”
The practical elements of the challenge are based on IRTE’s technician licensing scheme, irtec, and will take place at training facility S&B Automotive Academy in Bristol from May 29 to June 7, 2013.
