The cream of the UK's bus and coach technician industry celebrated at the IRTE Skills Challenge winners' ceremony at the Heritage Motor Centre, Gaydon today (25 July 2012).
VOSA chief excec Alastair Peoples presented the awards, which included a series of individual and team prizes covering the categories of mechanical, electrical and bodywork, and encompassing a bracket for the top-scoring apprentice in each division.
The IRTE Skills Challenge took place over three days at S&B Automotive Academy in Bristol, and the practical and theoretical tests were designed to stretch the competitors to their limits.
Arriva was the big winner this year, taking home seven of the awards, including the IRTE Award for Outstanding Achievement (pictured, left to right: Charlie Devlin, Colin Harris and Glenn Cooke).
Wilts & Dorset Bus Company, in Salisbury topped the Electrical, Mechanical & Body Combined category, while Northern Ireland operator Translink took home the Mechanical & Electrical Award.
"S&B Automotive Academy worked with each of the sponsors to devise tests that targeted areas they felt needed to be concentrated on by the industry for safety and reliability," says S&B deputy chief executive Richard Belton.
The mechanical and electrical tests included engine electrical, fuel systems and transmission faults, while the body assessments included panel fabrication, MAG welding, bonding and fibreglass panel repair.
The IRTE Skills Challenge was sponsored by Allison Transmission, Arriva, Bridgestone, Delphi, Halfords Trade, Knorr-Bremse, MAN, Scania and Shell Lubricants.
