LONDONDERRY, N.H. — Bring Back The Trades (BBTT) hosted a sold-out April 18 Skills Expo that saw more than 1,000 attendees and $35,000 worth of scholarships awarded to 14 students from across New Hampshire.

Gov. Kelly Ayotte helped kick off the day at Londonderry High School with the event’s co-hosts: the school, the Londonderry Police Department, and the Rotary Club of Londonderry. The expo was put on by Bring Back the Trades and presented by distributor F.W. Webb Co.

From heavy machinery to hands-on demonstrations, the community got a front-row-seat look at the careers that keep the world turning, a press release from Bring Back the Trade said.

“This is exactly what we mean when we say we’re working to bring back the trades,” said Steve Turner, founder of Bring Back The Trades. “Londonderry showed up in a big way. We aren't just talking about a skills gap anymore — we’re putting real money and real tools into the hands of the future. This isn't a ‘Plan B’ career path; for these students, it’s the first, best choice.”

The expo was co-chaired by Londonderry Police Capt. Patrick Cheetham, Londonderry Rotary past president Michael Lucci, and Londonderry High School vice principal Katie Sullivan. Lucci and the Rotary pledged their support early in 2025 after Cheetham and Sullivan made a push to first bring the event to the community.

The commitment to the trades is becoming a permanent fixture in the Londonderry High School community; this fall, Sullivan will serve as director of the newly created Lancer Academy at LHS. The program is designed to educate students on high-value alternatives to four-year colleges, ensuring the next generation is exposed to the full range of career possibilities ahead.

The day’s success was also fueled by sponsor F.W. Webb, whose support not only helps Skills Expos throughout the year, but also backed BBTT’s landmark research project: Working with Parker Strategy Group, BBTT recently parsed through 11,000 data points across seven key trades to map out the challenges facing the workforce, the press release said.

“We’re using this data to tell a powerful story,” said Shana Brunye, BBTT’s COO. “With F.W. Webb’s help, we’re doing even more research around the trades to understand exactly which trades are going to be needed most and where, so we can advocate for the next generation of tradespeople.”

To amplify the opportunities for schools to support trades education, BBTT recently announced the launch of its Tool Grant Program. Through a partnership with Milwaukee Tool, BBTT is outfitting nonprofits and public school shop programs with the professional-grade gear they need to train students.

“If we want these kids to be the best, they need to learn on the best,” said Turner. “With Milwaukee Tool on board, we’re making sure shop classrooms have exactly what they need to succeed.”

BBTT has a Skills Expo scheduled for next month in South Portland, Maine, and another scheduled for this fall in Marlborough, Massachusetts, this fall. For more information on upcoming events, past scholarship winners, the research report, or how to apply for a scholarship or the Tool Grant Program, visit the Bring Back the Trades website.