IRTE Northern Centre

This weekend, IRTE Northern Centre Hon. Chairman Tom Reed visited the show in Doncaster!

As well as military re-enactments and traders, there were a large number of military vehicles on display. Here are just some of the trucks that were proudly shown by their owners and custodians.

Do you know what these trucks are?

⭐Commercial Vehicle - Young Engineer of the Year!⭐

The next winner from this years' IRTE Northern Centre Young Engineer of the Year Awards is......

🎉HARRISON CROWE from NRG RIVERSIDE!🎉

Well done Harrison!

⭐Commercial Vehicle Apprentice - Young Engineer of the Year!⭐

The next winner from this years' IRTE Northern Centre Young Engineer of the Year Awards is......

🎉CHARLIE GILDEA from PRESTON SCANIA!🎉

Well done Luke!

Preston Scania

⭐Bus & Coach - Young Engineer of the Year!⭐

The next winner from this years' IRTE Northern Centre Young Engineer of the Year Awards is......

🎉LUKE FARMER from ARCHWAY TRAVEL!🎉

Well done Luke!

⭐Bus & Coach Apprentice - Young Engineer of the Year!⭐

The first winner from this years' IRTE Northern Centre Young Engineer of the Year Awards is......

🎉SHAUN BROME from STAGECOACH PRESTON!🎉

Well done Shaun!

The IRTE Northern Centre once again held their annual Young Engineer and Apprentice Awards with the finalists from the bus and commercial vehicle workshop industry in attendance at the Northern Centres first TechKNOW evening, held at the Barton Manor hotel near Preston in June.

Hon. Secretary of the Centre Corneilius Mitchell gave those present from the transport engineering industry as well as parents and company representatives an insight into how difficult the task had been this year to break down the written submissions sent into him by workshop managers, mentors, fleet engineers and service managers regarding their employees such was the quality of the entrants.

He stated that in one section he was unable to split two of the candidates, so the centre had awarded the winners accolade to two of the entrants within that category.

He thanked those that had submitted the entries and stated that they were all winners just by having such capable and willing members of staff within their employment.

Corneilius then explained that he had judged the entrants on the following topics, qualifications gained or presently being undertaken, IRTE accreditation, CPD, attitude, willingness, team membership, and any other related information that was submitted to him.

As in previous years those selected as finalists were categorised into different award sections with bus/coach being one and commercial vehicle the other, with each section then having an apprentice and a qualified winner.

The presentations were made by IRTE Northern Centre Hon. Chairman Tom Reed, with each of the winners receiving a certificate of achievement and a £100 SNAP-ON tools Voucher, all the other finalists were presented with a highly commended certificate.

Over the coming days, we will be celebrating the winners individually across our social media channels, so keep checking back!

Recently, IRTE Northern Centre Committee member, Rhian Hughes MIRTE MSOE attended the Royal Lancashire Show!

Whilst there, Rhian visited the team at Multevo UK , who are friends of the Centre.

Did you go to the show?

The IRTE Northern Centre rounded off the 2025 -26 schedule of planned CPD presentations with their first TechKNOW evening held at the Barton Manor Hotel near Preston.

The event was created to allow technicians (members/Non-Members) to visit the centre and be introduced to the advantages of being a member of the Institute of Road Transport Engineers as well as meet some trade representatives who were on hand to give advice.

A remarkable turnout of 72 members and guests were in attendance and those present were initially allowed some time to circulate between the trade representatives of MEI, Renault Trucks (JDS), VTS Diagnostics, Fox Group and LTS (Lancaster Trading Services) and the local IRTE Centre representatives who were in attendance.

As a result of the head office staff from SOE being unable to attend the inaugural event, IRTE Northern Centre stalwart, who was the event co-ordinator, Chris Grime gave those present an informative presentation on the Maintenance Provision Rating Scheme (MPRS) that was forwarded to him earlier that day by head office in London.

Chris covered the topic in much detail showing how the Maintenance Provision Rating Scheme (MPRS) is brought to the industry by the unity of trade organisations with a primary goal of improving industry standards and professional practices, within commercial vehicle maintenance. ​

He explained that the initiative is there to propel forward the standards in commercial vehicle workshop compliance to new levels of engineering excellence.

The presentation showed how the scheme that is backed by the Traffic Commissioners and the associated government bodies is making MPRS the next generation of compliance in commercial vehicle workshop accreditation, that is in-line with all the future needs and expectations of the road transport industry.

Upon completion of the presentation an informative Q and A session was undertaken that covered not only the topics within the MPRS presentation, but also individual benefits of membership of the SOE/IRTE.

Happy Father’s Day to all dads from the Committee, members and guests of the IRTE Northern Centre!

We hope you’ve had a great day!