MI5, MI6 and GCHQ (the UK’s intelligence community) work collaboratively to procure vital goods and services to help us protect the nation from threats to our national security.

We are offering an exciting opportunity for undergraduates to join either our 11-week summer programme or 12-month work placement schemes. We are looking for people from any degree background but with a preference for Business Studies, Finance, Accountancy and Law undergraduates. We have placement opportunities in Cheltenham and London.

On this scheme, you will improve your learning, gain awareness of Procurement and Business capability and have exposure to the world of public sector contract let and contract management to procure goods, services and works that support our intelligence agencies’ mission.

You will be embedded in our procurement teams where you’ll get hands-on experience to acquire new skills, knowledge and experience that contribute to our team’s successes.

If you join either the 11-week summer or 12-month placement scheme, you will work on procurement projects that will have a direct impact on our work while broadening your development. The nature of the projects you will be working on will be relevant to your academic studies and you could use your placement experience as an example, or a form of evidence of work in your final year at university. There will also be learning opportunities which will help you to understand procurement processes and the wider business management in our organisation.

We expect both the 11-week summer programme and the 12-month placement to be an exciting experience where you can really get involved with some of the innermost workings of our very busy commercial service department.

Key Aims:

The scheme will give you the opportunity to:

• Apply your learning to-date within a working environment
• Learn new skills/knowledge to support your future studies
• Working as part of a team
• Hands-on work experience in an enjoyable and supportive environment.

Responsibilities:

On this scheme, you could be involved in some or all the following activities:

• Procurement Projects - considering business best practice and professionalism.
• Learning about wider business management, exposure to contract let, contract management and service operations
• Attending tailored procurement, business and soft skills learning & development
• Learning more about MI5, MI6, GCHQ and the wider mission


The Reward Package:

Salaries:

11-week scheme
Central London: £5,324
Cheltenham: £4,745

12-month scheme
Central London: £26,210 per annum
Cheltenham: £23,360 per annum


Job Opportunities:

Students may be considered for permanent employment at one of our UK intelligence agencies upon successful completion of the scheme and achieving a minimum of a 2:2 university degree.
                                                                                                                      
Requirements/Qualifications:

We are looking for motivated people who are happy to work in a constantly changing procurement environment, who have enthusiasm, drive and initiative and are prepared to question processes and express their ideas.

Students will need to be either:

• Graduating in 2021/2022 and available to apply for the 11-week summer programme from 5th July – 17th September 2021

or

• Graduating in 2022/2023 and available to apply for the 12-month placement commencing 6th September 2021


Application Process:

You will be initially sent a link to complete our pre-screening questions to find out if you meet our initial criteria. If you do meet the criteria, we will ask you to begin an online application.

To be considered for the role you will need to submit:

• Your application - which must include details of what degree you are studying and when you are due to graduate,

• A 350-word (max) statement that states:

- Which scheme you wish to apply for (11-week summer programme OR 12- month placement)
- Your working location preference (Cheltenham OR London)
- Why you wish to apply for a placement with us
- What you will bring to a placement with us

Successful applicants will be invited to interview which will be taking place between December - February 2020-2021.

Confirmation of any appointment onto either the 11-week summer programme or the 12-month placement will be subject to the student successfully passing through the Developed Vetting process. The vetting process is estimated to take between 16-18 weeks.

In order to start an application for this role, please click here.

Discretion

Discretion is vital. You should not discuss your application, other than with your partner or a close family member. Please note, you should only launch your application from within the UK. If you are based overseas, you should wait until you visit the UK to launch an application. Applying from outside the UK will impact on our ability to progress your application.  Further information on our eligibility criteria can be found on the How to Apply section on our website.

Eligibility criteria

To be eligible to apply, you must meet our residency criteria. You must be a born or naturalised British citizen and one of your parents must be a British citizen or have substantial ties to the UK. Candidates must normally have been resident in the UK for 7 out of the last 10 years. This is particularly important if you were born outside the UK. You will nonetheless be considered if you have, for example, served overseas with HM Forces or in some other official capacity as a representative of Her Majesty's Government, studied abroad, or lived overseas with your parents. You can apply at the age of 17 years and 6 months, if successful you will not be offered a start date prior to your 18th birthday.

Equal Opportunities

The UK Intelligence Agencies / MI5 / MI6 / GCHQ are Equal Opportunities employers, committed to reflecting the society we protect.  Our recruitment process is fair, transparent and based on merit. We particularly welcome applications from diverse and under-represented groups.

Offer of Interview
 
As a Disability Confident Leader employer, we will ensure that a fair and proportionate number of disabled applicants that meet the minimum criteria for this position will be offered an interview. This is known as Offer an Interview.

Please be aware that we withhold the right to bring forward the closing date for this role from the original closing date once a certain number of applications have been received. Please be mindful on this and submit your application at your earliest convenience to avoid disappointment.