Industry Partners
Apply to Exhibit at Skill UP
Create an Interactive Experience Students Will Remember
skill UP is a large-scale, industry-led career exploration event for Northern Kentucky middle school students—produced by Allied Construction Industries (ACI) and catalyzed by TradesNKY.
We invite companies and organizations in the essential trades to apply to exhibit by proposing an interactive, experience-based activity that will capture students’ attention and introduce them to real career pathways in an engaging way.
Exhibitor Selection
Exhibitor participation is application-based. Exhibitors will be selected to ensure the event delivers the highest-value student experience and includes a strong mix of industries.
We’re looking for activities that are:
✅ engaging for middle school students
✅ easy to understand and quick to join
✅ interactive, experience-based, and safe
✅ led by professionals who can encourage participation and answer questions
✅ designed to keep students involved (not just observing)
Exhibitor Categories
Skill UP showcases careers across five essential trade areas:
BUILD
Design/Engineer • Construction • Plumbing • Electrical • HVAC
MAKE
Manufacturing • Machining • Robotics • Fabrication • Welding
MOVE
Logistics • Transportation • Supply Chain
POWER
Energy • Utilities • Environmental Systems • Lineman
PROTECT
Facility Operations • Public Safety • Community Infrastructure • Cybersecurity • Disaster Response
What to Expect
Selected exhibitors can expect:
structured student rotations
dedicated space for your activity
high participation and strong engagement
on-site support from TradesNKY + ACI staff
Ready to Apply?
If your organization can create an engaging experience students will remember, we’d love to review your application.