With billions of dollars in recent contract wins, Lockheed Martin (www.lockheedmartin.com) is providing thousands of high-tech jobs in Orlando (Florida), driving long-term economic benefits for the community via its involvement in the aerospace and defence industries.

Last month, the company presented a $300,000 cheque to Valencia College to support a second three-year advanced-manufacturing training programme that will help to cultivate the ‘talent pipeline’ in the community. Lockheed Martin hired about 60 people after the first programme and currently employs about 400 Valencia College graduates.

Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer said: “After more than 60 years in our community, Lockheed Martin continues to develop some of the most advanced technology right here, employing 8,000 of our residents and consistently contributing to our economy and our community.

"We are grateful for the company’s commitment to growing our talent pipeline through partnerships with both the University of Central Florida (UCF) and Valencia College, thereby ensuring that we will meet our future workforce needs, while also cultivating our community’s next generation of scientists, technologists and engineers.”

On 27 November, Lockheed Martin announced a $1.5 million grant to UCF to establish a Cyber Innovation Laboratory that will “foster the next generation of cyber talent”.

In addition to support for Orlando and Florida academic institutions, the company has announced 200 scholarships worth $10,000 per student.

This national programme is open to individuals studying engineering or computer science who demonstrate financial need and come from under-represented or under-served communities. The programme will grow to 1,000 students by 2023.