Full details have now emerged following yesterday's (25 July 2012) announcement of the award winners in the IRTE's Skills Challenge, aimed at recognising and rewarding bus and coach technicians.
Presented at the Heritage Motor Centre, Gaydon, the IRTE Skills Challenge 2012 winners were:
Top Scoring Mechanical Technician (sponsored by Allison Transmission): Ian Challoner, of Wilts & Dorset Bus Company Salisbury
Top Scoring Electrical Technician (sponsored by Shell): Colin Harris, of Arriva (Technician team)
Top Scoring Bodywork Technician (sponsored by Delphi): Charlie Devlin, again of Arriva (Technician team)
Electrical, Mechanical & Bodywork Combined Award (sponsored by Knorr-Bremse): Wilts & Dorset Bus Company, Salisbury – Ian Challoner, Paul Read, Bill Tinsley
Mechanical & Electrical Award (sponsored by Bridgestone): Translink – William Scott & Adam McGrath
IRTE Award for Outstanding Achievement: Arriva (Technician team) – Glenn Cooke, Colin Harris, Charlie Devlin
Top Scoring Mechanical Apprentice: Tom Hubbard, of Arriva (Apprentice team)
Top Scoring Electrical Apprentice: Ross Moffatt, of Arriva (Apprentice team)
Top Scoring Bodywork Apprentice: Wayne Stanton, of Arriva (Apprentice team).
Celebrating his company's victory, Lloyd Mason, engineer trainer with Arriva, said: "We prepared for the competition with a series of internal challenges and the competing teams were based on the best performers. We're pleased that it's paid dividends here today and we'll most definitely be back at the Skills Challenge next year."
Translink's technical engineer David Carson was also clearly pleased with his team's win. "This is the second year in a row that Translink has won an award at the Skills Challenge. We're delighted with the result – bring on 2013."
"It's been a fantastic day," commented SOE immediate past president Chris Grime. "It's great to see so many influential people from the bus and coach industry here and taking notice of the vital work done by these technicians."
And VOSA chief exec Alastair Peoples, who presented the awards donated by Halfords Trade, added: "The Skills Challenge both acknowledges and rewards technicians and apprentices who demonstrate excellence in their fields, and recognises and raises the profile of the operators who employ them.
"It's really inspiring to be standing here in front of a room of bus industry professionals saying that the future of the bus and coach industry is in good hands."
The IRTE Skills Challenge is sponsored by Allison Transmission, Arriva, Bridgestone, Delphi, Halfords Trade, Knorr-Bremse, MAN, Scania and Shell Lubricants.
Other operators competing in the 2012 IRTE Skills Challenge included Ipswich Buses, London Borough of Redbridge, MoD, Bluestar, Go-Ahead and Trent Barton.
