SOE: irtec stars shine at CV Show

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Wednesday, 16, Apr 2008 12:00

The CV Show is the biggest event in the UK’s road transport industry and irtec, the IRTE’s (Institute of Road Transport Engineers) technician licensing scheme, used the opportunity to congratulate the licence holders who excelled in 2007.

irtec has a strong presence within the IRTE stand at the Birmingham exhibition, giving licence holders and those interested in the scheme’s benefits an informal and informative port of call. Most importantly however, the Show gives the IRTE the opportunity to do what it does best – recognise talent and commitment within the road transport industry at the irtec Awards.

irtec is a renewable voluntary testing and assessment scheme that certifies the theoretical and practical skills of heavy goods and light commercial vehicle technicians.

The irtec licensing team recently reviewed all the licence holders’ assessment results from 2007. Following the opening day of the Show, those who achieved the highest marks in the irtec competency tests were announced in front of a selected audience of industry representatives. To celebrate their outstanding achievements, John Ratcliff, CBE and Patron of the Society of Operations Engineers (of which the IRTE is a Professional Sector) presented awards to the two apprentices and two technicians who achieved 2007’s highest test scores.

Halfords, who recently teamed up with irtec by offering licence holders the Halfords Trade Card, donated the prizes for the occasion. Halfords offered the winners of the irtec Awards an Industrial Metal Storage Set worth over £500, and the runners-up in each category won 150-piece socket sets, worth £150.

irtec’s Head of Licensing, David Oakeley, explains irtec’s role at this year’s CV Show:

“Primarily the irtec team is here to show the same level of commitment to irtec licence holders as they have shown to the road transport industry. During the Show it was a pleasure to see so many existing licence holders and, similarly, meet many new people.”

SOE Chief Executive Nick Jones said:

“The IRTE and irtec is proud to recognise the achievements of tonight’s winners. Their scores in the irtec competency assessments are exceptional, and they are a credit to irtec, their employers and themselves.”

The stand provided a friendly environment for the thousands of visitors to the CV Show to network, whilst giving members of IRTE and existing irtec licence holders a warm welcome.

David added:

“It is great that irtec has such a strong presence at the CV Show. It shows how important and well-known the licensing scheme has become within the industry – which is indicative of the skill and competence of irtec’s growing number of licence holders.”

Ends…

Editor’s notes:

The irtec Awards:

Tuesday 15th April

16.30 – 18.30

IRTE/irtec stand CV Show– (stand 258, Hall 8)

Refreshments provided

Winner details:

Anthony Preece-Dawson, Royal Mail, Leicester

Highest Scoring irtec Technician - Winner

Scored 99.63% in the irtec competency tests

Wins: trophy and Halfords Industrial Metal Storage set (retail £500)

Nicholas Harvey, S&B Commercials, Hatfield, Herts.

Highest Scoring irtec Apprentice - Winner

Scored 94% in the irtec competency tests

Wins: trophy and Halfords Industrial Metal Storage set (retail £500)

Runner-up details:

Jason Goodyear, Volvo Dealership, A Culpin & Son Ltd, Lincolnshire.

Highest Scoring irtec Technician – Runner-up

Wins: trophy and Halfords 150-piece socket set (retail £150)

Graeme Kelly

Highest Scoring irtec Apprentice – Runner-up

Wins: trophy and Halfords 150-piece socket set (retail £150)

irtec

irtec (the ‘i' should always be in lower case) is a renewable voluntary testing and assessment scheme that certifies the theoretical and practical skills of heavy goods and light commercial vehicle technicians. An irtec licence proves a commitment to safety and demonstrable professional development by both the technician and employer.

irtec licences are awarded at three levels, depending on the candidate’s skills and experience. Once an irtec licence is issued, the technician is listed on a national register and is bound by a code of conduct. The licence is valid for a period of five years after which the licensee must undergo reassessment for renewal.

The irtec licensing scheme was developed as a collaboration between the IRTE and many stakeholders in industry. Clients of the irtec scheme include Royal Mail, Northgate, Balfour Beatty, Shell, Northampton County Council, Biffa Waste Services, BT, BP Oil UK, MAN, VSO (Voluntary Service Overseas) and the West Midlands Fire Service.

Further details are available from the irtec website at www.irtec.org.uk.

IRTE (Institute of Road Transport Engineers)

A Professional Sector of SOE, the IRTE is a partner in the CV Show, alongside the RHA and SMMT. IRTE, one of the most respected names in UK transport, was founded in 1944 and is recognised as an impartial voice of the industry. It encourages high standards of excellence with an emphasis on safety, demonstrated by its research and education programme for members and industry.

Society of Operations Engineers (SOE)

SOE is a professional membership organisation that represents three professional sectors of the engineering industry – IRTE, IPlantE and BES. The Society promotes safe, efficient and environmentally sustainable operations engineering to the benefit of the community at large, through the support of best practice and health and safety initiatives, a commitment to the professional development of its members and by influencing legislation and design.

SOE offers members continuous professional development and support throughout their careers and provides a definitive recognition of status and achievement. The organisation is a Licensed Member of ECUK and is one of the few professional bodies that can nominate members for ECUK registration at EngTech, IEng and CEng levels.

The SOE is online at www.soe.org.uk