MI5, GCHQ, and SIS or MI6 : Employer profile

Location: Wales, Northern Ireland, East of England, Greater London, West Midlands, East Midlands, North East, North West, South West, South East
Additional location details: MI5 has regional offices across Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The majority of new GCHQ entrants are recruited to work at their headquarters in Cheltenham (Gloucestershire). Occasionally though there are opportunities to work at GCHQs smaller stations in Yorkshire (Scarborough) and Cornwall (Bude).
Work sectors: business and management; banking and finance; recruitment and HR; IT and information services; law; science and pharmaceuticals

Company profile

The UK faces a combination of threats including terrorism, cyber attacks, regional instability, proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, espionage and narcotics smuggling. The Security Service (MI5), the Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) and the Secret Intelligence Service (SIS or MI6) are the UK’s intelligence agencies and they exist to counter these threats and promote British interests.

The three agencies have different but related functions and the range of mutual assistance is wide. MI5 investigates suspect individuals and organisations, collating and analysing secret intelligence to safeguard national security. It also advises the Government and critical national infrastructure on the threat level and protective security measures. It has a headquarters in London and regional offices across Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

MI5 is one of the many departments that task SIS and GCHQ through the Joint Intelligence Committee (JIC) to collect certain types of intelligence.

SIS (MI6) collects secret foreign intelligence to protect the UK’s security and economic well-being.

GCHQ, based primarily in Cheltenham (Gloucestershire), has two specific functions, production of signals intelligence (SIGINT) and ensuring the security of communications and information systems, known as Information Assurance. GCHQ also plays a crucial role in cyber security for the UK and concentrates expertise on understanding threats and exploiting opportunities in cyber space.

Information Technology plays a major role in helping to keep the UK safe and secure and the intelligence agencies offer a variety of opportunities for graduates from a range of IT backgrounds. Specialists with skills in internet and computer technologies, computer engineering, digital forensics, network security, information assurance and information science work across a number of technical disciplines and provide expert support to investigative teams. Using technology as a tool, IT specialists gather and analyse digital intelligence and the technical insights they provide can be vital in helping to piece together complex intelligence pictures.

Graduates from other backgrounds also join the intelligence agencies as Intelligence Officers, Intelligence Analysts and Language and Culture Specialists/Foreign Language Analysts, to name but a few of the roles available. Each agency’s website will provide details about the full range of opportunities they offer.

National security may be threatened both in the United Kingdom and from overseas, so the UK’s intelligence agencies also work closely with counterparts in other countries to ensure the security of UK interests overseas and counter transnational threats.

Intelligence related work is challenging, constantly evolving and always interesting. The focus is on keeping one step ahead of people who are, in turn, trying to keep one step ahead of the intelligence community. Whatever your degree, technical, vocational or professional qualifications, it is likely there is a role to suit your skills and abilities.

Benefits include a generous holiday entitlement, pension and flexible working where operational commitments allow. Some sites have subsidised fitness facilities and staff restaurants. Everyone benefits from excellent training and development; the skills and professional qualifications you gain will be industry standard and transferable.