First Bus engineers at Bradford depot win awards in transport industry national challenge

Two apprentice engineers at the First Bus depot in Bradford have won a national competition to decide the best technicians in the bus and coach industry.

Tahir Mansley and Mathew Tetley succeeded with colleague Sean Bell, who is based at Bramley, in winning the Outstanding Apprentice Team award in the IRTE Skills Challenge, which is organised by the Institute of Road Transport Engineers.

The team of three beat rivals from some 40 operators from across the country. Tahir (electrical) and Matthew (mechanical) also took the runner-up place in the individual skills categories for their specialism.

The IRTE Skills Challenge is a week-long series of technical problem-solving and diagnostic exercises set by the Institute’s specialists to the test the knowledge and capability of qualified engineers and trainees.

First Bus also won the Outstanding Qualified Team award with engineers based at other depots in Halifax and Hunslet Park and Bramley in Leeds.

Individual honours for Electrical Technician award and Bodywork Apprentice award were also claimed by colleagues at each Leeds depot with an engineer at Halifax winning the Mechanical Technician Award.

First West Yorkshire Engineering Director, Simon Carlisle, said: “To sweep the board in so  many categories shows the strength, depth and new talent we have in our depots.”

“The whole business is extremely proud of the achievements of our qualified and trainee engineers, who have demonstrated the skills, aptitude and versatility needed to maintain a modern bus fleet and meet the challenges of new technologies and zero-emission vehicles which are increasing on the region’s roads will be the norm in the years to come.” 

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Pictures show apprentices at work during the challenge week.