As your no doubt aware, the number of UK jobs where the employer
requires the prospective candidate to pass various levels of Vetting and
Government related SC level Security, has mushroomed dramatically in
recent years. Even in companies where only a tiny amount of their work
is government related, no matter whether it be local or national government,
the NHS or whatever.
Many employers attitude these days is - if 2 or more of our staff
need SC clearance, then all our staff should be SC cleared and no new hires
should be taken on unless they have SC or capable of getting SC.
I've even come across Bosses where the Client only needs staff to
be upto Baseline level of Clearance ( eg Disclosure Scotland ) but have
come down in favour of going for 'the Full Monty' namely SC Security
clearance, on account of DS's only lasting 3 years whereas SC Security
Clearance lasts 5 years.
Naturally you can only wonder whether existing staff ( without SC )
where it would be a big hurdle for them to clear SC, are made Redundant
or if theyre lucky, redeployed.
As many Contractors know - Brits can work anywhere within the EU
either 'on contract' or Perm, thanks to the EU Free movement of labour
directive and although this opens up many opportunities, especially
for Contractors with Language skills - it can also present many difficulties
upon their return to the UK, namely:
The SC requirement - which tends to be duplicated by many other
Vetting agencies requirement - that candidates should have lived and
worked in the UK for the last 5 years.
For those who might have criminal convictions, been declared bankrupt
or have CCJ's against them, the above makes no odds.
But for many 'law abiding citizens', who never spied for the USSR/Russia,
never got into debt and have an immaculate Credit History. Being
turned down for SC cleared jobs for 5 years after their return to the
UK seems a bit harsh. Particularly those supporting family and kids
together with a monthly mortgage.
Of course questions arise namely.
1. If you have been SC Cleared in the past, say within the last 5 years.
Can the Contrator/Permie live & work anywhere in the EU and still
return to the UK to land a SC level job ( without waiting 5 years ) because
he/she has been SC Cleared before and don't need to go into where
he/she has lived and worked recently.
Maybe get SC in 2014 then after leaving the UK job, live and work in
France or Spain for 2 years before returning to the UK to land another
SC Cleared job ( on the strength that the last one hasn't expired ? )
2. Does a Certificate of Good Conduct from the relevant Police
Authorities where you have been living and working. Tick the box as
far as proving, there you have no criminal convictions against you
while working in the EU member state.
3. Should the UK Vetting Agencies 'wake up' to the fact that the UK
is part of the EU with Free Movement of labour, enhancing many
peoples career opportunities and rather than stifling careers and
business opportunities by being so 'dog in the manger' and
hanging onto their 'little England' attitude. They should 'reach out'
to other EU States in order to perform vetting.
Note - Although I realise that some SC roles ( directly related to UK
Defence, the Security Services and National Security will remain ) there
should be a more loose SC for other government work, etc where
National Security is not an issue. Where the 5 years resident UK
requirement can be relaxed.
The same can be said of the credit reference agencies as well,
namely Experian & Equifax they should be reaching out and
including all EU citizens ( not just the British ones ) in their
Credit history checks. So that the average British Expat
working within the EU, maintains an unbroken credit history
within the EU.
requires the prospective candidate to pass various levels of Vetting and
Government related SC level Security, has mushroomed dramatically in
recent years. Even in companies where only a tiny amount of their work
is government related, no matter whether it be local or national government,
the NHS or whatever.
Many employers attitude these days is - if 2 or more of our staff
need SC clearance, then all our staff should be SC cleared and no new hires
should be taken on unless they have SC or capable of getting SC.
I've even come across Bosses where the Client only needs staff to
be upto Baseline level of Clearance ( eg Disclosure Scotland ) but have
come down in favour of going for 'the Full Monty' namely SC Security
clearance, on account of DS's only lasting 3 years whereas SC Security
Clearance lasts 5 years.
Naturally you can only wonder whether existing staff ( without SC )
where it would be a big hurdle for them to clear SC, are made Redundant
or if theyre lucky, redeployed.
As many Contractors know - Brits can work anywhere within the EU
either 'on contract' or Perm, thanks to the EU Free movement of labour
directive and although this opens up many opportunities, especially
for Contractors with Language skills - it can also present many difficulties
upon their return to the UK, namely:
The SC requirement - which tends to be duplicated by many other
Vetting agencies requirement - that candidates should have lived and
worked in the UK for the last 5 years.
For those who might have criminal convictions, been declared bankrupt
or have CCJ's against them, the above makes no odds.
But for many 'law abiding citizens', who never spied for the USSR/Russia,
never got into debt and have an immaculate Credit History. Being
turned down for SC cleared jobs for 5 years after their return to the
UK seems a bit harsh. Particularly those supporting family and kids
together with a monthly mortgage.
Of course questions arise namely.
1. If you have been SC Cleared in the past, say within the last 5 years.
Can the Contrator/Permie live & work anywhere in the EU and still
return to the UK to land a SC level job ( without waiting 5 years ) because
he/she has been SC Cleared before and don't need to go into where
he/she has lived and worked recently.
Maybe get SC in 2014 then after leaving the UK job, live and work in
France or Spain for 2 years before returning to the UK to land another
SC Cleared job ( on the strength that the last one hasn't expired ? )
2. Does a Certificate of Good Conduct from the relevant Police
Authorities where you have been living and working. Tick the box as
far as proving, there you have no criminal convictions against you
while working in the EU member state.
3. Should the UK Vetting Agencies 'wake up' to the fact that the UK
is part of the EU with Free Movement of labour, enhancing many
peoples career opportunities and rather than stifling careers and
business opportunities by being so 'dog in the manger' and
hanging onto their 'little England' attitude. They should 'reach out'
to other EU States in order to perform vetting.
Note - Although I realise that some SC roles ( directly related to UK
Defence, the Security Services and National Security will remain ) there
should be a more loose SC for other government work, etc where
National Security is not an issue. Where the 5 years resident UK
requirement can be relaxed.
The same can be said of the credit reference agencies as well,
namely Experian & Equifax they should be reaching out and
including all EU citizens ( not just the British ones ) in their
Credit history checks. So that the average British Expat
working within the EU, maintains an unbroken credit history
within the EU.
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