Bus firm’s apprentices scoop top national skills prize

Young engineers at trentbarton have scooped the top prize in a national bus industry skills challenge.

Three apprentices – Oscar Jenkins, Kyle Sandford and Edward Batchelor – were crowned the UK’s best apprentice team at the 10th Institute of Road Transport Engineers (IRTE) Skills Challenge, which took place at Williams F1 in Oxford.

They beat off competition from some of the biggest names in UK passenger transport, including Arriva, Stagecoach and National Express.

Oscar also came out on top in the Body Apprentice Award, with Kyle named runner-up in the Mechanical Apprentice category.

All three apprentices live in Derby. Kyle, 19, and Edward, 21, work at trentbarton’s depot in the city, while Oscar, 22, works at the firm’s engineering support unit in Heanor.

Oscar, who last month also won Apprentice of the Year at trentbarton’s 2020-21 Really Good Service Awards, said: “I was pleased to win – and surprised.

“They are the kinds of tasks we do every day at work but with the added pressure of a time limit.

“Winning as a team was even nicer because we could celebrate as a team. We all came through our apprenticeships together.”

Wayne Potter, engineering manager at trentbarton, said: “All the individual achievements were very special and to win the overall best apprentice title is a fantastic achievement by the lads.

“It shows trentbarton can compete with and even outperform very respected operators across the country. I am super proud of the lads.”

IRTE chief executive Bruce McGill said: “There is no better place to see how the industry is progressing through its apprentices and technicians than at the IRTE Skills Challenge.

“Congratulations to our winners and runners up, and to all those who took part.”