Security Clearance
Net Consulting have strong contacts within the defence industry and understand the value of attaining Security Clearance. Several of our permanent consultants are themselves security cleared.
Security Clearance is a mystery subject for many, and often candidates do not know the different levels involved or understand how to apply for clearance, which can lead to frustrations with defence related positions.
How many levels are there and who needs them?
There are 4 main levels of clearance, from a basic check which takes a couple of weeks to gain and minimal checks to achieve, through to a developed vetting procedure which takes months to achieve and involves several interviews, credit checks and a variety of personal and business references.
Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) – Formerly Basic Check (BC) Enhanced Baseline Standard (EBS) – Formerly Enhanced Basic Check (EBC)
Baseline clearance is required by anyone employed in the public sector and Armed Forces on either a permanent or temporary basis, or anyone working on government contracts who require access to government information up to and including confidential material. Baseline clearance confirms identity and employment/education references and normally takes about 2 weeks to receive.
Counter Terrorist Check (CTC)
CTC clearance is required by anyone working in close proximity to public figures, or to information which is protectively marked and held in a secure area. The clearance does not allow access to restricted information, but it does allow access to public sector facilities.
Security Check (SC)
SC level clearance allows uncontrolled access to ‘Secret’ material, and occasional supervised access to ‘Top Secret’ material where required. The Security Check involves a criminal record check, a credit reference check and, where appropriate, a check against Security Service records. SC clearance is normally valid for 10 years; however it normally lapses 12 months after leaving a secured environment.
Developed Vetting (DV)
DV level clearance allows unrestricted access to material marked ‘Top Secret’ and below. This level is the highest level of clearance available from the Defence Vetting Agency (DVA). The DV checks normally involve a criminal records check, a credit check, a face to face interview with the Agency, personal and professional references and where appropriate a check against Security Service records.
Clearance normally takes 3-4 months to achieve and is initially valid for 5 years (and 7 thereafter) as long as the candidate remains in a cleared position.
How to get Security Clearance
Candidates often get frustrated with the apparent Catch 22 situation of gaining security clearance. You cannot gain security clearance without a sponsor, and to gain sponsorship you must be offered a contract with an MOD project. However, it is often difficult to get a position on a defence project without having the clearance first.
The reason for this difficulty is that certain levels of checks can take significant time to gain. For the SC and DV levels gaining clearance can often take as long as the contract duration, which is why those who already hold clearance are often at an advantage in the recruitment process. This doesn’t tend to matter so much for permanent candidates, as there is often less urgency in the recruitment process. It must be noted that there should be no discrimination in the recruitment process against those without clearance, but in reality the time periods involved are often taken into consideration and can prove disadvantageous.
For further information on the vetting process, visit www.mod.uk
If you currently hold security clearance, or would be interested in gaining a position which could lead to it, then please register with us and we will be in contact as soon as possible.