Terms and conditions

1. Registering an interest to participate

1.1 The IRTE Skills Challenge 2012 is open to bus and coach technicians and engineers from the body, mechanical and electrical disciplines.

1.2 Bus and coach operators wishing to participate in the IRTE Skills Challenge must register an interest to take part in the competition no later than 31 January 2012, via the SOE website at www.soe.org.uk/irteskills.

1.3 Bus and coach operators must complete the registration form and provide full contact details, including name, company, address of the operator they work for, email and telephone number.

1.4 Technicians registering their interest in the IRTE Skills Challenge should inform their line manager.

1.5 Once potential participants have registered their interest, they will receive an email about the IRTE Skills Challenge. If they have not heard from us within a month of registering, it is suggested they contact the IRTE Skills Challenge Events Manager on 020 7630 2174.

1.6 Potential participants may be contacted with e-shots about the scheme. They can unsubscribe from these by replying to the e-shot with ‘unsubscribe’ or ‘stop’ in the subject line. This will not affect their request to participate in the IRTE Skills Challenge.

2. Notification of interest to participate

2.1 Bus and coach operators who register an interest to take part in the IRTE Skills Challenge will be contacted in February 2012 with information on next steps, and how to submit a team for the competition.

2.2 Technicians who register an interest to participate in the IRTE Skills Challenge are authorising IRTE to inform their employer that they have shown an interest in participating.

2.3 Interested technicians will be notified by 10 February 2012, by email, that their employer has been notified. If they have not received a notification by that date, they should contact Emma Thompson, Events Manager on 020 7630 2174.

2.4 The operator (employer) will make the final selection of those that will participate in the actual competition.

3. Charges for entering

3.1 There are no charges to enter the IRTE Skills Challenge 2012.

4. Bus and coach operators

4.1 Teams/individuals can be submitted to take part to represent an operator as a whole group, or as separate divisions or regions from the same operator.

4.2 Operators must contact Emma Thompson, Events Manager, to discuss participation (020 7630 2174 or emma.thompson@soe.org.uk).

4.3 There are a limited number of teams that can participate in the competition. If the optimum number of teams is achieved the organisers reserve the right to close entries to the competition or to include interested participants on a reserve shortlist.

4.4 Where technicians have registered an interest to take part in the Skills Challenge, operators will be told the names of potential participants.

4.5 Selection for individuals and/or teams is at the discretion of the operator.

4.6 Operators are expected to cover the cost of participants travelling to the IRTE Skills Challenge testing stage which could also include overnight accommodation.

4.7 Operators are expected to the cover the cost of its participants/representatives attending the IRTE Skills Challenge Awards ceremony.

5. Registration of technicians for competition

5.1 Operators must confirm the names and addresses of individuals and/or teams that will participate in the IRTE Skills Challenge no later than 1 May 2012

5.2 The IRTE Skills Challenge team submission form must be used to register the names and addresses of the technicians that will take part in the IRTE Skills Challenge.

6. Competition

6.1 The IRTE Skills Challenge testing will take place at S&B Automotive Academy on 26-29 June 2012.

6.2 The competitions will start at 9am on each day and finish no later than 4.30pm.

6.3 The competition will include an online test and a series of practical tests.

6.4 Each competition day can have a maximum of five teams taking part.

6.5 There can be a maximum of 20 teams taking part in the IRTE Skills Challenge 2012.

6.6 Operators will agree which day they wish to participate in the IRTE Skills Challenge, and participants will only need to attend the chosen day.

6.7 Participants must be working for an operator that is participating in the scheme when the actual competition takes place.

6.8 A buffet lunch will be provided for participants of the IRTE Skills Challenge during the competition day. Any dietary requirements are requested to be submitted 14 days before the testing.

7. Non-attendance at competition

7.1 If a participant fails to attend the IRTE Skills Challenge competition, then a mark of 0% will be awarded against their place in the competition.

7.2 Operators must inform the IRTE if a participant will not be attending the IRTE Skills Challenge competition at the earliest possible opportunity.

8. The winners' presentation

8.1 The winners’ presentation will take place at a ceremony in July 2012.

8.2 There will be a minimum of six awards in the IRTE Skills Challenge 2012, including:
• Top scoring body technician
• Top scoring mechanical technician,
• Top scoring electrical technician
• Top scoring electrical & mechanical team combined test
• Best collaboration on team-work challenge
• Winning team of the IRTE Skills Challenge.

8.3 The organisers reserve the right to introduce additional awards or to remove awards.

8.4 Participants/operators are expected to pay for their own travel and accommodation to the Awards ceremony.

9. Promotion

9.1 Photographs of competitors/teams may be taken on the day of the competition and during the Awards ceremony. Images will be used in the winners’ brochure, PR activities and other marketing materials. By participating in the Skills Challenge competitors/operators are giving their consent for photographs/images to be used for promotional purposes.

9.2 The IRTE Skills Challenge may be filmed for promotional purposes.

9.3 Operators/Competitors names and agreed quotes may be used to promote the IRTE Skills Challenge in press releases and marketing materials.