Bring Back the Trades (BBTT), the national nonprofit working to close the skilled trades workforce gap, will host its 2026 Massachusetts Skills Expo on Thursday, October 29 at the Royal Plaza Trade Center in Marlborough. The event is presented by title sponsor F.W. Webb Company.

More than 1,000 students are already registered, filling roughly 30 percent of available student capacity, and over 30 companies have already signed on to exhibit, accounting for nearly 40 percent of available exhibitor space. Doors open at 9 AM and the event runs through 2:30 PM. Tickets are required.

This year's event moves to a weekday for the first time, a direct response to requests from teachers and school administrators who wanted to bring students in as part of organized field trips. BBTT's 2025 Massachusetts Skills Expo, held at Gillette Stadium, drew more than 3,000 attendees.

The expo is designed for students ages 10 and up and offers hands-on experience with trades including electrical, plumbing, HVAC, construction, automotive, welding, and more. Students don't just learn about the trades — they try them. Past expos have featured live equipment demonstrations, virtual reality welding, excavator operation, and interactive exhibits that give young people a real feel for what these careers look like.

"Teachers asked us to move the event to a weekday so they could bus students in directly, and we listened," said Shana Brunye, COO of Bring Back the Trades. "The result is more students, more time for real conversations, and more opportunities for the next generation to connect with the companies that need them."

Sponsors signed on to date include Title Sponsor F.W. Webb Company, Platinum Sponsors Casella Waste Systems and Eastern Propane & Oil; Silver Sponsors Milwaukee Tool, New England Institute of Technology, and Timberland PRO; Bronze Sponsors MA Army National Guard and Kinross Nevada; and Community Champions including Metro Walls, General Dynamics Electric Boat, Eversource Energy Efficiency, Lincoln Technical Institute, US Air Force, Advantage Truck Group, MBTA Commuter Rail Keolis, VIP Tires & Service, WIN Waste Innovations, Porter and Chester Institute, VIP Tires & Service, and others.

Exhibitor and sponsorship space is still available, with outdoor spots for larger equipment going quickly. Nonprofit discounts are available.