My question about SC clearance

**psychocandy** · 4 April 2012, 09:14

Needing SC is nothing to with IR35 its a requirement to be able to access certain stuff. Which is why as you say its pointless if permies need it but not contractors.

**scooby** · 4 April 2012, 09:21

Originally posted by ChimpMaster View Post

I'm contracted at a client which deals with chemicals, many of which are high-risk grade. This means that all employees have to be SC cleared - everyone in the organisation.

Contractors are excluded from this requirement, which I find reassuring from an IR35 perspective, but disconcerting from a professional standpoint. Surely contractors (bearing in mind I have been here a few months) should be required to go through the same clearance? I have more access to the core IT systems than many of the permies!

Am I at risk (of what I have no idea though), or should I just ignore and carry on?

If they have opted to give you unrestricted access to SC material because they have defined 3rd parties to be exempt, then it is their issue if something arises. Are you always supervised? Do bear in mind that there will be heavy security auditing and logging in place so they can trace anything back to source.

Question it with the supervisor, but then it can 3mths to get SC and costs them money. Did they BC / CRB check you on joining (takes about 2-4wks and costs about £60)?

**northernladuk** · 4 April 2012, 10:37

Originally posted by ChimpMaster View Post

I'm contracted at a client which deals with chemicals, many of which are high-risk grade. This means that all employees have to be SC cleared - everyone in the organisation.

Contractors are excluded from this requirement, which I find reassuring from an IR35 perspective, but disconcerting from a professional standpoint. Surely contractors (bearing in mind I have been here a few months) should be required to go through the same clearance? I have more access to the core IT systems than many of the permies!

Am I at risk (of what I have no idea though), or should I just ignore and carry on?

One of the few times Psychobabble makes a point and not a ramble he is wrong again. The fact permies get it and you don't is good for IR35 as it shows a clear distinction between you as the OP mentions.

I think it is down to the reason for SC. I might have this wrong as I haven't actually held SC for a chemical company but I would be surprised if you need SC clearance just for being on site, you need it for maybe if you work with the recipie or the customers or it is used in warefare so MoD put the requirement on. It may even be due to requirements on customer sites i.e. if they supply these to Sellafield you need SC for parts of that site. These doens't mean everyone needs clearance just to work on the IT systems and is in place for permies possibly if they need it at some point rather than required for their role??? As it is a dormant benefit for when needed maybe it isn't worth putting contractors through who won't be around when it is needed?

**scooby** · 4 April 2012, 10:50

Originally posted by northernladuk View Post

I think it is down to the reason for SC. I might have this wrong as I haven't actually held SC for a chemical company but I would be surprised if you need SC clearance just for being on site, you need it for maybe if you work with the recipie or the customers or it is used in warefare so MoD put the requirement on. It may even be due to requirements on customer sites i.e. if they supply these to Sellafield you need SC for parts of that site. These doens't mean everyone needs clearance just to work on the IT systems and is in place for permies possibly if they need it at some point rather than required for their role??? As it is a dormant benefit for when needed maybe it isn't worth putting contractors through who won't be around when it is needed?

You can also be sponsored / escorted by a SC cleared person, which is enough to allow you access to SC material / areas.

**Mr.Whippy** · 4 April 2012, 18:37

Originally posted by scooby View Post

You can also be sponsored / escorted by a SC cleared person, which is enough to allow you access to SC material / areas.

That also depends on where you're working.

I've worked in places where they won't allow access to SC systems or areas if your SC has less than 3-6 months remaining, despite it being valid. Don't ask me why

**ChimpMaster** · 4 April 2012, 19:02

Originally posted by northernladuk View Post

One of the few times Psychobabble makes a point and not a ramble he is wrong again. The fact permies get it and you don't is good for IR35 as it shows a clear distinction between you as the OP mentions.

I think it is down to the reason for SC. I might have this wrong as I haven't actually held SC for a chemical company but I would be surprised if you need SC clearance just for being on site, you need it for maybe if you work with the recipie or the customers or it is used in warefare so MoD put the requirement on. It may even be due to requirements on customer sites i.e. if they supply these to Sellafield you need SC for parts of that site. These doens't mean everyone needs clearance just to work on the IT systems and is in place for permies possibly if they need it at some point rather than required for their role??? As it is a dormant benefit for when needed maybe it isn't worth putting contractors through who won't be around when it is needed?

Thanks NLUK, that's what I was thinking - the distinction is important from an IR35 perspective. I just wanted to see if I (my company) could be under any specific legal risk, but from the sound of it there's no problem.

Odd that this company needs all employees to be SC'd. They have no restrictions on internet, for example facebook, webmail are all open! (and no I haven't tried any other more interesting websites!)

In one way though I wanted them to SC me, as it'd be another thing to add to my CV

**northernladuk** · 4 April 2012, 23:06

Originally posted by ChimpMaster View Post

Thanks NLUK, that's what I was thinking - the distinction is important from an IR35 perspective. I just wanted to see if I (my company) could be under any specific legal risk, but from the sound of it there's no problem.

Odd that this company needs all employees to be SC'd. They have no restrictions on internet, for example facebook, webmail are all open! (and no I haven't tried any other more interesting websites!)

In one way though I wanted them to SC me, as it'd be another thing to add to my CV

I was SC' cleared to work in one of the big IT consultancies and all I did was run budgets around for our internal support teams. Would seem odd there, thing is my office did work for 2 clients who required SC to even look at site let alone work. Everyone that could be billed to them was SC cleared so they could start immediately should work dictate. Not that bad a policy IMO. Just cause staff is SC clerared doesn't mean they are using it.

KNow what you mean about having it though. Would be very sweet.

My question about SC clearance