HomeUFCUFC Partners with Skilled Trades College to Support Youth in Skilled Trades

UFC Partners with Skilled Trades College to Support Youth in Skilled Trades

UFC partners with Skilled Trades College of Canada to support youth in skilled trades. The partnership aims to showcase STC within UFC’s live events in Canada and provide new opportunities for STC students through the Building Champions Scholarship.

UFC Partners with Skilled Trades College to Support Youth in Skilled Trades
UFC and Skilled Trades College of Canada (STC) have announced a new marketing partnership. As an official partner of UFC, STC will receive brand integrations within UFC’s Canadian live events. The partnership will also include collaborations on custom content and the launch of the Building Champions Scholarship, which aims to grant a full scholarship to 12 STC students. STC will host viewing parties and silent auctions to benefit Steel Toe Careers, a nonprofit providing scholarships for education and skills training in the construction industry. The partnership will be activated during UFC® 297: STRICKLAND vs. DU PLESSIS on January 20 in Toronto.

LAS VEGAS and TORONTO, Jan. 04, 2024 – UFC®, the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization, has announced a new marketing partnership with Skilled Trades College of Canada (STC), the Canadian leader in training youth in skilled trades. This partnership aims to showcase STC within UFC’s live events hosted in Canada, including Pay-Per-Views and Fight Nights.

As an official partner of UFC, STC will receive brand integrations within UFC’s Canadian live events, including high visibility placement inside the world-famous Octagon®, and in-venue booth activations that will provide opportunities for in-person fan engagement. UFC and STC will also collaborate on custom content that will be distributed through UFC’s popular Canadian digital and social channels.

Ralph Cerasuolo, President & Chief Executive Officer of Skilled Trades College, expressed his excitement about the partnership, stating, “For almost 20 years, Skilled Trades College of Canada has educated and trained people to be job ready in the skilled trades. Partnering with UFC reflects our shared values with an understanding that opportunities need to be earned and seized. Students at STC align with the qualities of grit, determination, and a work ethic that are necessary in the trades – and always visible inside the Octagon. Like UFC, we are always looking to evolve and innovate, and we are so excited to collaborate on such a meaningful endeavor. Together, we are unveiling a first-of-its-kind scholarship that will transform the lives of 12 youth with the Building Champions Scholarship.”

The Building Champions Scholarship, set to launch later this year, aims to grant a full scholarship to 12 students to use towards any STC pre-apprenticeship program. This initiative will provide new opportunities for STC students and contribute to the development of skilled trades professionals in Canada.

In addition to the partnership, STC will host two viewing parties in 2024, featuring silent auctions with all proceeds benefiting Steel Toe Careers, a registered nonprofit in Toronto that provides scholarships to young people to gain equitable access to education and hands-on skills training in the construction industry.

Mike Di Donato, Chief Operating Officer of Skilled Trades College, highlighted the importance of the partnership, saying, “The construction industry is like being in the Octagon – the best trainers and coaches make the difference between winning and losing. At STC, we pride ourselves on providing the industry’s top training and employment services. We are excited to work with UFC on the Building Champions Scholarship, and having those winners be trained, job ready, and into meaningful employment.”

The partnership between UFC and Skilled Trades College will be activated during the highly anticipated UFC® 297: STRICKLAND vs. DU PLESSIS event on January 20 at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, where STC will serve as the presenting sponsor. This event will feature a thrilling world championship double header, headlined by a middleweight championship bout between Sean Strickland and Dricus Du Plessis, as well as a bantamweight championship bout between Raquel Pennington and Mayra Bueno Silva.

For more information about UFC and Skilled Trades College, visit UFC.com and skilledtradescollege.ca.

About UFC®

UFC® is the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization (MMA), with a massive global fan base and a strong presence on social media. The organization holds over 40 live events each year, broadcasting to millions of viewers worldwide. UFC’s roster includes top MMA athletes from more than 80 countries. To learn more, visit UFC.com.

About Skilled Trades College of Canada

The Skilled Trades College of Canada (STC) is a renowned career college that specializes in construction training. With a reputation for excellence and industry-relevant programming, STC has been training and educating individuals for almost 20 years. STC offers year-round classes and hands-on training across five campuses in the Greater Toronto Area. To learn more about STC and the Building Champions scholarship, visit skilledtradescollege.ca.