UK's elite bus and coach engineers compete at award winning academy in Bristol

In a bid to showcase the talents of the best of British engineering, a new three-day event to find the top bus and coach technicians in the UK was hosted at multiple award-winning training centre, S&B Automotive Academy, in Bristol.
By: S&B Automotive Academy
 
 
S&B Automotive Academy was the hi-tech venue for the competition
S&B Automotive Academy was the hi-tech venue for the competition
July 3, 2012 - PRLog -- Keeping the nation’s buses and coaches safely on the road is a highly skilled but often unsung profession. Run in partnership with the Institute of Road Transport Engineers, the IRTE Skills Challenge saw 14 teams of technicians competing for top honours at S&B’s £1million training facility.

Representing some of the biggest names in public transport, as well as two teams from the Army’s Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers regiment, technicians got to grips with a series of rigorous practical and theoretical tasks, as well as trouble-shooting vehicle faults. S&B’s technical lecturers worked with the IRTE in creating a competition designed to put the teams’ knowledge and skills to the absolute test.

In recognition of their achievement, a special awards ceremony to announce the winners will be held at the Motor Heritage Centre in Gaydon later this month.

Commenting on the joint initiative to promote the value of engineering skills to the UK economy, Jon Winter, Chief Executive, S&B Automotive Academy, said:

“A safe and efficient commercial and passenger vehicle sector relies on the competence and professionalism of highly skilled technicians. This new challenge is a dynamic opportunity to showcase their skills, particularly as technology gets more sophisticated. It’s also a great way of promoting the sector to young people interested in a career within this industry.”

Nick Jones, Chief Executive, Society of Operations Engineers, the parent organisation of the IRTE, thinks that the competition will help shine a light on the important work being done within the industry:

“Bus and coach technicians play a vital role in keeping society on the move. Without their work, millions of people would not get to school, work, or to see friends and family. The industry has been overlooked for too long; this challenge celebrates and recognises the skills of these technicians, while highlighting their daily achievements to the wider public.”

At the forefront of developing individuals in the motor vehicle and road transport sectors for over forty years, S&B recently added another accolade to its own trophy cabinet.

Against competition from more than 450 colleges and training providers across the UK that are approved by The Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI), S&B triumphed to win the IMI’s Outstanding Approved Centre of the Year Award for the second successive year. It was also the first time that the award had been won twice by the same centre.

The Academy’s continual progress in helping provide opportunities for young people to start a career in the motor industry and investment in its state-of-the-art facility earned it the top spot again.

Tony Jolliffe, Chairman, S&B Automotive Academy, who was presented with the award by the IMI’s Patron, HRH Prince Michael of Kent, paid tribute to the Academy’s efforts to showcase Bristol as the UK’s training capital for automotive learners:

“Achieving this prestigious award for the second year running just goes to show how much effort has gone in to developing our Bristol based academy as the leading light for automotive training in the UK. All the team can be justly proud of their achievements in preparing apprentices for a prosperous future.”

Commenting on the Academy’s unique double, Alan Mackrill, Managing Director, IMI Awards, said:

"S&B Automotive Academy has continued to deliver on its vision to constantly evolve and expand. The Academy has invested in its facilities and is at the forefront of initiatives in support of the automotive sector. All the team are ambassadors for the industry and the IMI is proud to honour them with this prestigious award for the second year running.”
End
Source:S&B Automotive Academy
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Tags:Engineering, Automotive, Skills, Training, Bristol
Industry:Automotive
Location:Bristol - Avon - England
Subject:Awards
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