With different roles and skills required across 14 different departments and organisations, we’ve got something to suit everyone. Find your path into National Security now.
Schemes
Explore the different paths into a career in National Security with the Civil Service by checking out the schemes below.
Civil Service Apprenticeships
The Government offers a range of apprenticeships throughout the year, as and when they need apprentices. There are a huge variety of roles, and you could be employed as anything from a marine biologist to a web developer.
Early Diversity Internship Programme
An opportunity for those from diverse backgrounds to find out more about the Civil Service and Fast Stream. This 5-day placement in a Government department gives you valuable insight and understanding of what it’s like to be on the Fast Stream.
Summer Diversity Internship Programme
Giving people from diverse backgrounds the opportunity to see what a career in the Civil Service is like. This programme puts talented undergraduates in a Government department for two months, where they’ll get insight into the broad range of opportunities available across the Civil Service.
Civil Service Fast Stream
Fast Streamers work across the Civil Service, typically gaining experience of working in different departments, as they are developed to become our future leaders. The programme offers unlimited career potential to reach the very highest levels of the organisations.
CyberFirst
CyberFirst is designed to identify and nurture a diverse range of talented young people into a cyber security career. CyberFirst activities are intended to inspire and encourage students from all backgrounds to consider a career in cyber security and apply for a CyberFirst bursary.
Other parts of National Security
SIS
The Secret Intelligence Service (or MI6), protects the UK’s people, economy and interests from overseas threats. We help other countries with whom we share values of democracy, international law and universal human rights.
We operate secretly all over the world and work closely with other UK intelligence agencies – MI5 and GCHQ, and Government departments.
MI5
MI5’s mission is to keep the country safe, protecting us from a range of threats including terrorism and espionage, sabotage and hostile activity by states.
MI5 currently has 4,400 staff roles covering a number of areas including investigations, translation, data analysis, technology, surveillance, communications, information management, protective security, administration, building services and catering.
GCHQ
The Government Communications Headquarters – otherwise known as GCHQ – is a world-leading intelligence, cyber and security agency, tasked by the UK Government. Their mission is to keep the UK and its citizens safe from cyber-attacks, terrorism and espionage, using cutting-edge technology, technical creativity and a wide range of partnerships.
GCHQ are made up of different backgrounds, skills and personalities, and are proud to collaborate and work together with purpose.
NCSC
The National Cyber Security Centre’s role is to help make the UK the safest place to live and work online.
They support the most critical organisations in the UK, the wider public sector, industry, SMEs as well as the general public. When incidents occur, they will provide effective incident response to minimise harm to the UK, help with recovery, and learn lessons for the future.
NCA
The National Crime Agency’s mission is to catch the criminals that pose the biggest threat to the UK.
They lead the fight to cut serious and organised crime, staying one step ahead of the criminals by recruiting people from all backgrounds and cultures with diverse skills and experiences.
More info
What type of roles are there?
There are many different roles and skills required, across 14 different organisations, including:
- Attorney General’s Office
- Cabinet Office
- Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
- Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
- Department for International Trade
- Department for Transport
- Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
- HM Treasury
- Home Office
- Ministry of Defence
- National Crime Agency
- GCHQ
- MI5
- Secret Intelligence Service
We’ve described a few roles above to give you a sense of what’s on offer, but to explore more roles visit our Find Your Role page.
How long will I stay in a role?
How long it takes you to progress will depend on what role or scheme you apply for. We give everyone who works in National Security the support and opportunities they need to progress.
What happens if I don’t like it?
As with most roles in the Civil Service, you can choose to move to different areas within National Security and the Civil Service. If you decide that none of them are right for you, you always have the option to leave.
How much will I get paid?
Your salary will depend on the role you apply for. In the Civil Service, we always strive to offer competitive salaries as well as great working benefits.
Where can I find more information and apply?
Available roles and schemes change all the time. So, if you see something you like the look of, check the relevant page for the most up to date information on how to apply.
Find a part of National Security that’s right for you
Within the National Security community there are many different roles and skills required, across 14 different organisations.
These include everything from creating social media campaigns to keep people safe, preventing cyber-attacks, responding to security threats presented by climate change, managing intelligence operations, negotiating treaties, investigating crime groups and more.
What qualifications do I need?
There are many opportunities to get into National Security. Some require specific qualifications, but there are also many roles that don’t.
We offer internships, apprenticeships, bursaries and other schemes to give as many people a chance to be part of our community and help us create a workforce that is as diverse as the roles we offer.
Whatever your background, your skills, qualifications or experience, we might just have the career for you.
Work with us
Careers in National Security
Put your unique skills to the test in a career helping the Government keep us safe, at home and abroad.
What you could do
There are many different roles in National Security and each one requires a different set of skills. From digital communications to policy to project delivery – we’ve got something to suit everyone.
