Ceramex and Imperial Engineering are both putting their support behind the IRTE Skills Challenge 2019 competition for bus and coach technicians and apprentices by becoming new sponsors of the event.
Diesel particulate filter refurbishment specialists Ceramex, and Imperial Engineering, a supplier of bus and coach parts, spares and components, join a growing list of dedicated sponsors of the skills contest which matches technicians and apprentices against each other in a series of engineering tests. Premier Pits, which designs, manufactures and installs prefabricated vehicle pits, has also signed up as a sponsor this year.
The competition, now in its ninth year, is held over the first week of June at the S&B Automotive Academy in Bristol, and covers three disciplines of mechanical, electrical and bodywork.
SOE Chief Operating Officer Daniel Moir, said: “The IRTE Skills Challenge is growing each year as it attracts bus and coach operators from all corners of the industry. We are delighted to welcome Ceramex and Imperial Engineering into the fold and we are confident they will be able to contribute to the ongoing success of the Skills Challenge.”
Ceramex Head of Sales and Marketing, Marcus Beament, said: “The IRTE Skills Challenge sponsorship not only gives Ceramex a great platform to showcase our cleaning and services technology, but also to help advance a competition that is a great advocate for raising standards and best practice.”
John Dwight, Imperial Engineering’s Sales Director, commented: “It’s really important that the bus and coach industry presents itself as an attractive career opportunity for the engineers and technicians of tomorrow, as the advances in technology mean that the multi-skilled engineer will be in great demand. The IRTE Skills Challenge is the foremost opportunity to demonstrate and prove both mechanical and electrical excellence and a dynamic showcase to promote skills in our industry. Imperial Engineering is therefore proud to become closely associated with this competition as a sponsor. We wish all participants the best of luck.”
National Express and Williams Coaches are new operators entering teams into the competition this year; they join ten other companies from the sector in entering, and a total of 70 contestants.
The Skills Challenge media day, where the press is invited to attend the competition to speak to sponsors, bus and coach operators, and competitors, will take place on June 5. For enquiries, or to confirm attendance, please email: [email protected]