Sixty qualified and apprentice engineers from across the coach and bus industry were honoured at the 2025 IRTE Bus and Coach Skills Challenge awards ceremony last month, attended by executives from major sponsor, Imperial Engineering, which has supported the initiative for over 12 years.
Organised by the Society of Operations Engineers, this year’s competition was described as the event’s “most successful edition yet”, which saw a record number of competitors enter.
The IRTE Skills Challenge is widely regarded as one of the most important initiatives in the transport engineering calendar. The competition tests technical knowledge and practical ability across a broad range of specialisms including electrical systems, mechanical diagnostics, electric driveline, and DVSA inspection standards.
The energy continues to grow as more managers nominate rising stars to showcase what they’ve learned in their workshops, benchmarking their skills against their peers.
Organisers are already looking to 2026, with a promise of new tests, talent and opportunities. Workshop managers, training providers and sponsors are encouraged to participate.
“The Skills Challenge isn’t just an annual event, it’s a reflection of the sector’s ongoing commitment to training, professionalism, and excellence,” SOE says. “Participation offers real value to operators: for employers, it boosts morale, drives standards, and helps identify top talent. For apprentices, it’s a platform for recognition and development. For the industry, it’s a demonstration of engineering’s impact on safety, sustainability, and service.”
This year’s individual winners were:
Mechanical Apprentice: Jamie McCallum, Lothian Buses – sponsored by Imperial Engineering
Philip Margrave Memorial Award for Outstanding Achievement: Heath Halle, First Bus
Bodywork Apprentice: Abdikafi Abdi, First Bus
Electrical Apprentice: Stuart Dunlop, Lothian Buses
Electric Driveline Apprentice: Hasan Khan, National Express
Mechelec Apprentice: Alex Hirst, First Bus
DVSA Inspection Apprentice: Kaden Dacosta, First Bus
DVSA Inspection Technician: David Farnworth, First Bus
Bodywork Technician: Paul Bevan, National Express / Lucketts Travel
Electrical Technician: Jack Davidson, Reading Buses
Electric Driveline Technician: Peter Blake, First Bus
Mechanical Technician: Calum Beltrami, Metroline
Coach Technician: Craig Brown, Greys of Ely
Master Technician: Stephen Price, First Bus
Imperial Engineering’s continued sponsorship of the IRTE Skills Challenge aligns with its mission to support engineering excellence, drive innovation in fleet maintenance, and contribute to a sustainable transport future. As bus and coach operators navigate the transition to zero-emission vehicles, the company remains a trusted partner, delivering high-quality PSV parts and expertise.
John Dwight, Sales Director, Imperial Engineering, commented:
“In what has been a record year for the competition, Imperial Engineering is proud to continue its support of the IRTE Bus & Coach Skills Challenge, which showcases the crucial importance of developing skills for the future advancement of the sector.”
Imperial’s Technical Sales Manager, John Simmons, is pictured awarding the trophy for Best Mechanical Apprentice to Jamie McCallum of Lothian Buses.
