We are building up a community to advance paths to the trades.
Whether you hire tradespeople, work with adults navigating career transitions, or fund workforce solutions, there is a place for you here.
Ways to Partner
How you can be part of the solution
There is a place for every kind of partner at buildUP.
Industry partners
Hire our graduates, offer apprenticeships, or help shape what job-ready looks like in your trade.
Funding partners
Sponsor a student's training, fund a cohort, or invest in building the infrastructure that makes this model work.
Community and workforce partners
Refer adults who are ready to commit to a trade but need funding support to get there.
Mentors and volunteers
Journeymen and educators who want to share their craft — help in the classroom, on a job site visit, or as a one-on-one mentor.
What You Get
What partnering with buildUP means for you
Partners shape our program, connect to our students, and share in what we build.
For industry partners
Replacing a skilled trades worker costs thousands in recruiting, onboarding, and lost productivity — and the pipeline is not getting easier. Our students are adults who chose this path deliberately. They are not fresh out of high school exploring options. They have committed financially and personally to completing a program. If you have apprenticeships, entry-level openings, or are willing to do a site visit or an informational conversation with our cohort, buildUP can connect you with motivated, vetted candidates. You open the door. We make sure they are ready to walk through it.
For funding partners
A single student sponsorship — covering tuition, tools, and program costs — can move an adult out of a dead-end job and into a career that changes the trajectory of their family. Our students are adults who already have life experience and drive. They are not looking for a handout; they are looking for someone to bet on them. Every dollar goes directly to a student. We will show you exactly where it goes and what happens next. That kind of transparency is not common. We think it should be.
For community and workforce partners
If your organization works with adults navigating career transitions — through employment services, reentry, housing stability, or workforce development — you may already know people who are ready for trade training but cannot access it because of cost. buildUP removes that barrier. For most students with qualifying backgrounds, tuition is fully covered. Connect your clients to our program and together we remove one of the biggest obstacles between them and a stable career.
Our Partners
The organizations building this with us
We are in active conversations with trade schools, employers, and workforce organizations across Utah. Founding partners will be recognized here as relationships are formalized. If you are reading this early, that is exactly the right time to reach out.