A SALISBURY technician has won a top prize at a national engineering contest.

Ben Gilmour, a vehicle technician from bus operator Go South Coast, was presented with the Top Scoring DVSA Inspection Technician Award at the IRTE Skills Challenge 2015, an annual competition for bus and coach technicians and apprentices.

The ceremony was held at the National Motorcycle Museum in Solihull.

The IRTE Skills Challenge aims to find the best bus and coach technicians and apprentices in the UK and Ireland by testing their skills and knowledge in a series of mechanical, electrical and bodywork tasks.

Skilled shift technician Ben joined the Salisbury Reds (formerly the Wilts & Dorset Bus Co) in March 2003 where he served his apprenticeship at Salisbury Engineering Department.

As part of his prize, Ben won a high-end tool set from Teng Tools, as well as a demonstration day out with the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), the government agency responsible for ensuring the UK’s buses are fit for the road.

The keynote speaker for the awards ceremony was Sir Moir Lockhead OBE, the patron of the Society of Operations Engineers, the umbrella organisation of IRTE. He said: “It has been an honour to see the commitment of operators, technicians and apprentices in this year’s competition – commitment that is vital to the success of the UK’s road transport industry. This event not only rewards those individuals who are committed to their profession, but also the operators who strive to ensure their people are trained to the highest standards. Through initiatives like this, IRTE aims to encourage safety, compliance and development in road transport.”

Teams from Abellio, Arriva, FirstGroup, Go-Ahead London, Go South Coast, London United Buses, Metroline, Tower Transit, Translink, and trentbarton took part in this year’s event, which was sponsored by Allison Transmission, Bridgestone, Knorr-Bremse, Shell Lubricants, and Teng Tools, and supported by Abellio, DVSA and MAN.