Specialist recruitment firm C9 Recruitment has joined as a sponsor for the prestigious IRTE Bus & Coach Skills Challenge 2025, taking place for the 13th time from 2-6 June in Bristol. The IRTE Skills Challenge is the UK’s leading technical competition for bus and coach engineers, testing participants on their practical skills and technical knowledge.
C9 Recruitment joins Alexander Dennis, VARTA and Imperial Engineering as sponsors, and is reinforcing its commitment to developing engineering talent and dedication to bridging the skills gap in the transport sector. Through this sponsorship, the company aims to support career growth, enhance professional opportunities and ensure a pipeline of engineers is coming through.
David Lunn, commercial director at C9 Recruitment, says: ”The IRTE Skills Challenge is a unique event that truly showcases the incredible talent within the bus and coach engineering sector. I’ve supported this competition since its launch and have always admired the impact it has on the industry.
”Events like this are vital for developing engineering excellence and attracting new talent, which is why the entire C9 senior leadership team is proud to back it. There’s nothing else like it in the industry, and it deserves the support to grow and thrive.”
Emma Thompson, executive director of the Society of Operations Engineers (SOE), adds: ”The IRTE Bus & Coach Skills Challenge is an important event in IRTE’s calendar and is an initiative we continue to invest in since its inception over 14 years ago. As well as bringing together the best talent in bus and coach, it’s also where new ideas are made, and IRTE is extremely proud to be the facilitator of such industry-defining conversations.
”The ongoing success of the Skills Challenge is made possible by the unwavering support of our sponsors who lead the way in developing new challenges and providing apprentices and technicians with opportunities to acquire new skills for the future.”
BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS
To mark International Women’s Day on 8 March, the Society of Operations Engineers (SOE) and Women in Bus and Coach joined forces to tackle the underrepresentation of women in engineering. The partnership's focus is on increasing female representation at the IRTE Bus & Coach Skills Challenge.
The bus and coach industry has long been male-dominated, reflecting wider trends in the engineering sector. Despite progress, women still face barriers to entry, including outdated perceptions of engineering roles, lack of visible role models and limited access to industry opportunities. By leveraging their networks and influence, the SOE and Women in Bus and Coach aim to attract more female engineers to take part.
Past Skills Challenge winner Hollie Smith says: ”I want more girls to compete, because [female winners] are inspiring not just to women, but to everyone.”
The bus and coach industry is facing workforce shortages, with a growing demand for skilled engineers. Encouraging more women to enter the sector helps to bridge the skills gap.
By investing in mentorship, professional development and awareness initiatives, this collaboration aims to create lasting change and ensure that women have a strong presence in engineering and transport operations.
The SOE’s Emma Thompson says: ”Engaging with initiatives like SOE’s mentoring platform can empower the next generation of female engineers, ensuring that the path forward is more equitable and supportive. Celebrating IWD within the SOE framework reinforces the commitment to diversity, innovation and excellence in engineering.”
Laura Hadzik, director of Women in Bus and Coach, adds: ”Women are making incredible strides in the bus, coach and community transport industry, but engineering remains an area where female representation is still far too low.”
■ Registration for the IRTE Bus & Coach Skills Challenge closes on 30 April. Sign up via this link: www.tinyurl.com/33kaaa53
