Celebrations all round as the winners of IRTE Skills Challenge 2023 are announced.

The IRTE Skills Challenge is an annual competition held by the Society of Operations Engineers (SOE) and hosted by S&B Automotive. This year it took place between the 5-9 of June 2023.

Around 60 qualified and apprentice PSV engineers, from Arriva, Go Ahead, First Bus, Metroline, Trent Barton and National Express competed in a series of electrical, mechanical and bodywork challenges to find the best in bus and coach.

“The IRTE Skills Challenge provides us with an excellent opportunity to showcase the skills and talents of our engineers, technicians and apprentices from all around the UK.” “Not only does it provide technical support and career support it also gives us an insight into the industry’s best talents”.

Oliver Teasell, IRTE.

Go-Ahead London were the most successful operators at this year’s event, winning 5 awards followed closely by Arriva who won 4 awards. With the overall level of talent and dedication from all the contenders showed that the future of the bus and coach industry looks bright.

The IRTE Skills Challenge has been regarded as a valuable opportunity for both apprentices and technicians to showcase their skills and knowledge. It helps to raise the standards of the industry and ensure that the bus and coach sector has a skilled workforce for the future.

In addition to the awards for the apprentices and technicians Richard Harrington Group Engineering Director at Go-Ahead, was awarded the prestigious Philip Margrave Memorial Award for Outstanding Achievement.

The award recognises an individual who has contributed to the promotion of standards, safety, apprenticeships and ongoing training in the bus and coach industry. The award was first inducted in 2015 in memory of Philip Margrave, former Engineering Director for Go-Ahead London.

Philip played a major role in setting up and promoting the annual IRTE Skills Challenge. Philip Margrave’s son Lewis Margrave, currently Engineering manager at the Go-ahead group, presented the award on behalf of his father.

“My father was an active member of the IRTE for 24 years. He was committed to raising standards within the UK bus industry and was instrumental in setting up the annual IRTE Skills Challenge competition” “This award is presented each year to somebody who champions his legacy by supporting apprentices and promoting standards and training”.

The event was generously sponsored by FCL, Imperial Engineering, Knorr-Bremse, Teng Tools and Freeway. Without the commitment of all the sponsors involved the IRTE Skill challenge would not be able to support the next generation of talented bus and coach engineers

Now in its twelfth year, the IRTE Skills Challenge continues to grow, benchmarking and celebrating the industries next generation of talent