The IRTE Skills Challenge 2025 is set to be the most competitive in its 13-year history. With 124 entries received from apprentices, technicians, and qualified engineers across the UK, this year's competition has more than double the number of applications received in 2024.
Organised by the Institute of Road Transport Engineers (IRTE), the Skills Challenge is a national competition designed to test and develop the theoretical and practical skills of bus and coach engineers. Participants face challenges in electrical, mechanical, and bodywork disciplines, gaining hands-on experience with cutting-edge technology.
The 2025 Skills Challenge will take place from 2–6 June 2025 at S&B Automotive Academy in Bristol. Following the competition, an awards ceremony will be held in July 2025, where winners will be announced across various categories, including individual and team awards for both apprentices and qualified technicians.
With entries coming from both major fleet operators and independent depots, this year’s Skills Challenge will showcase the incredible breadth of engineering talent working across the UK’s passenger transport sector.
The range of applicants includes experienced engineers and up-and-coming apprentices and is a positive reflection of how deeply the culture of training, testing, and professional recognition is embedded in today’s workforce.
A Signal of Industry Confidence and Aspiration
What makes this year’s entry numbers significant is not just the volume, but the clear message they send: the PSV sector is engaged, motivated, and proud of its people. In a time when the industry is actively working to address skills shortages and futureproof its workforce, the high demand to take part in the IRTE Skills Challenge demonstrates a widespread appetite for professional growth, recognition, and sector-wide benchmarking.
Due to the scale of interest, only the best of the best could be selected to compete this June. But even for those who weren’t chosen, the enthusiasm to get involved tells a story of an industry rallying around its technicians, not just as essential workers, but as champions of quality, safety, and continuous improvement.
The IRTE Skills Challenge has grown year on year, evolving into more than just a competition. It is now seen as a national platform for engineering pride, a space where apprentices and seasoned professionals alike can test their knowledge in real-world conditions, gain invaluable hands-on experience, and represent their employers on a respected stage.
What the Challenge Involves and Why It Matters
Held over four days at S&B Automotive Academy, the Skills Challenge immerses participants in a mix of demanding practical assessments that reflect the challenges engineers face every day and theory-based challenges to test their thinking. From mechanical fault-finding and diagnostics to complex electrical tasks and bodywork repairs, the competition evaluates core workshop competencies using vehicles and equipment.
The format mirrors live fleet environments, pushing entrants to demonstrate both technical precision and time-sensitive decision-making; the exact skillsets required to keep public transport safe and operational. Teams also compete for best overall performance, team collaboration, and problem-solving under pressure.
While the tests are challenging, the goal is ultimately developmental. Participants leave with increased confidence, new skills, and a clearer sense of how their abilities align with industry standards. For employers, entering the Skills Challenge is a motivational tool fostering team spirit, benchmarking progress, and identifying rising stars within their organisation.
Industry Support and Sponsorship: A Chance to Shape the Future
Behind every successful Skills Challenge is a network of supporters who understand the long-term value of technical excellence. In addition to engineering organisations and fleet operators, the event relies on sponsors and stakeholders who believe in workforce development and raising standards across the industry.
For sponsors, the IRTE Skills Challenge provides more than brand exposure. It offers direct alignment with industry progression, a front-row seat to emerging talent, and high visibility through the IRTE’s communications channels.
As the competition grows, so too does its audience. From senior decision-makers and workshop managers to technical educators and regulators, the Skills Challenge attracts a unique cross-section of the transport sector. For organisations looking to build meaningful partnerships, support vocational excellence, and demonstrate social impact, getting involved in the Skills Challenge offers significant reputational value.
A Strategic Response to Skills Gaps and Future Challenges
Events like the IRTE Skills Challenge are not only a celebration of engineering talent; but are an essential mechanism for developing that talent; ensuring UK transport remains safe, sustainable, and resilient.
This year’s record-breaking response is an indicator of progress. It shows that engineers, technicians, and apprentices are eager to engage and that the industry is responding by creating opportunities for recognition and development.
Whether it’s sponsoring a category, supporting an apprentice, or simply being present during competition week, sponsors can expect to be part of something that’s shaping the future of the transport engineering profession.
Be Part of the Future, Be Part of the IRTE Skills Challenge
Whether you're a workshop leader, an engineer in training, or a potential sponsor, there’s never been a better time to get involved.Together, let’s continue to champion technical excellence, inspire the next generation, and raise the bar for engineering standards across the transport sector.