Held over three days at S&B Automotive Academy in Bristol, teams from transport fleets across the UK competed in a series of rigorous mechanical, electrical, bodywork and tyre examination tasks, put together by industry specialists, sponsors and the Institute of Road Transport Engineers, which is part of the Society of Operations Engineers. The aim of the annual competition, which saw its highest number of entrants to date, is to recognise the best engineers and technicians working in the bus and coach sector, as well as showcasing the need for new apprentices.
Leading bus parts distributor, Imperial Engineering, has long advocated that ‘home grown’ talent provides meaningful return on investment and there are plenty of industry studies to show that Apprenticeships deliver significant payback to employers which nurture and develop their workforce. Imperial Engineering has been a supporter of bus and coach technician apprenticeships for several years. The company actively supports apprentices at the grassroots level through a number of measures. These include organising training sessions with Imperial Engineering’s OEM suppliers such as Knorr-Bremse and Wabco for customers including Arriva, Go Ahead, London United and Metroline.According to Imperial Engineering, employees who feel valued are more motivated and therefore likely to perform better. Investing in career progression is not only a productive force for staff, it can help managers ensure that the business is well equipped with the right structure, skills and people to meet an improving business climate.
Awarding the trophy to the winning Mechanical Apprentice, Wojciech Hernik who is employed by Lothian Buses, Imperial Engineering’s Technical Manager, John Simmons (pictured left), commented:
“With public sector vehicle technology advancing rapidly, individuals who are technically competent in mechanical, electrical, diagnostics and programming are greatly needed in the bus and coach industry, with the prospect of a dynamic career. The IRTE Skills Challenge aims to recognise and promote this expertise, which is endorsed by Imperial Engineering and once again, we’re proud to sponsor this important event for our industry. Congratulations to Wojciech for winning the top mechanical apprentice award, which is a fantastic achievement.”
Since its inception, the IRTE Skills Challenge has welcomed over 650 competitors, and their respective managers. The initiative was recognised by Carmen Guild by awarding it The Carmen’s Herbert Crow Award in 2017 for its role in promoting the technical ability and hard work of individuals and teams from all over the UK and abroad.
For 2024, the organisers focused on new technology, diversity in competitors as well as encouraging support from new interest groups. Three specific goals were to:
- Encourage greater diversity in competitors including increased female participation.
- Bring pressing safety and skills topics impacting the bus and coach profession into the spotlight
- Provide early new technology access and feedback opportunities for the technicians.
