Flexible working: we support full-time, part-time, compressed, flexible hours and job sharing, subject to business need. Full-time roles are based on 36 hours per week Monday to Friday, with flexibility around start and finish times. Part-time roles are based on a minimum of 3 days per week. Due to the nature of this role, home or remote working is not possible.
About us
MI5 keeps the country safe from serious threats like terrorism and attempts by states to harm the UK, its people and way of life. We carry out investigations by obtaining, analysing, and assessing intelligence, and then work with a range of partners including MI6 and GCHQ to disrupt these threats. Through our protective security arm, we provide advice and guidance to government, businesses and other organisations about how to keep themselves safe. A role in MI5 means you'll do unique and challenging work in a supportive and encouraging environment, making a real difference to UK national security.
The role
As a Business Enabler, you’ll enjoy varied work in a role that puts the emphasis on teamwork. It means we have really rewarding careers that rely on people with varied backgrounds, ages, and skills. Whether you’ve just graduated or want a career change, you’ll develop your skills, have a hugely positive impact and be at the heart of what we do. The support you give in one of our many mission enabling positions will help the wider intelligence business work smoothly, while giving you lots of interesting insights.
Our Business Enablers operate in a wide range of roles across almost all areas of the organisation. While each role is different, it will last a minimum of two years, allowing you the time to build your expertise and experience and make tangible contributions to your business area. Typical areas of the organisation you might be posted to include: Finance, Legal, Information Management, HR, Project Management, Compliance, Recruitment, Policy, Pensions, Training and Data Management.
Your first post will help you to gain a breadth of experience, build relationships and develop detailed knowledge in one specific area of our organisation. And after a minimum of two years, you’ll be able to apply for different roles in the organisation or continue where you are, depending on business needs and priorities at that time.
Whilst you’ll be employed by MI5, you might also have opportunities to work with MI6 and GCHQ.
About you
There’s no one ‘type’ of person we’re after. Protecting the UK requires talented people, and those people aren’t found in any one particular section of society. Our Business Enablers come from a range of backgrounds and experiences.
To join, you’ll have (or be expecting) a 2:2 degree or above in any degree discipline, or you’ll have at least 12 months’ permanent work experience where you have developed the skills and qualities that will be crucial for success in this role. You’ll be able to communicate effectively with people, establish productive working relationships, work well in a team and be adaptable to new working environments. With great organisational skills and attention to detail, you’ll trust your own judgment and have confidence in making your own decisions. Whilst happy to take responsibility for your own areas of work, you’ll also enjoy collaborating to solve problems.
If you are in the final year of your studies, we advise you to apply now. During the recruitment process our recruitment team will give you further information about when you would be able to join.
Training and development
We’re committed to developing our staff and recognise this will be different for everyone. We have an exceptional skills community, dedicated to supporting you. We offer tailored training, coaching, and mentoring, alongside opportunities to pursue career pathways. Whatever your professional goals, we’ll work with you to build the skills you need to excel at your role and throughout your career. There is also a support network for new Business Enablers to help you settle into your new environment. This network provides events, socials and buddy schemes, as well as linking fellow Business Enablers across the office to share knowledge and support.
It’s important that you’re keen to learn new skills and are open to personal development. No matter your experience or background, you’ll get lots of dedicated support when you join. With an induction and your own mentor, you’ll quickly get to grips with everything and have a friendly face to help you settle in. You’ll find out which team you will be posted to on your first day in the organisation and this will be based on business need and priorities at the time that you join us.
Rewards and benefits
You’ll receive a starting salary of £40,428 rising to £43,705 after 1 year, and other benefits including:
25 days of annual leave automatically rising to 30 days after 5 years' service, and an additional 10.5 days of public and privilege holidays
opportunities to be recognised through our employee performance scheme
a dedicated development budget
an interest-free season ticket loan
an excellent pension scheme
a cycle to work scheme
facilities such as a gym, restaurant and on-site coffee bars
paid parental and adoption leave
Equal opportunities
At MI5 diversity and inclusion are critical to our mission. To protect the UK, we need a truly diverse workforce that reflects the society we serve. This includes diversity in every sense of the word: those with different backgrounds, ages, ethnicities, gender identities, sexual orientations, ways of thinking and those with disabilities or neurodivergent conditions. We therefore welcome and encourage applications from everyone, including those from groups that are under-represented in our workforce such as women, those from an ethnic minority background, people with disabilities and those from low socio-economic backgrounds.
Find out more about our culture, working environment and diversity on our website: https://www.mi5.gov.uk/careers/working-at-mi5/diversity
We’re Disability Confident
MI5 is proud to have achieved Leader status within the Department for Work and Pensions' Disability Confident scheme. This is aimed at encouraging employers to think differently about disability and take action to improve how they recruit, retain and develop disabled people. As a Disability Confident Leader, we aim to ensure that a fair and proportionate number of disabled applicants who best meet the essential minimum criteria for this position, will be offered an interview, if it is practical for us to do so. (This is known as the Offer of an Interview.) To secure an interview for this role, the minimum criteria (in order of application process) are:
There is a wide range of extra support available throughout the recruitment process to enable you to do your best. See our website for information on reasonable adjustments we can offer.
What to expect
Our recruitment process is fair, transparent, and based on merit. Here is a brief overview of each stage, in order:
Please note, you must successfully pass each stage of the process to progress to the next. Your application may take around 9 to 12 months to process including vetting, so we advise you to continue any current employment until you have received your final job offer.
Before you apply
To work at MI5, you need to be a British citizen or hold dual British nationality. Visit our website to read about our eligibility criteria.
This role requires the highest security clearance, known as Developed Vetting (DV). It’s something everyone in the UK Intelligence Community undertakes. You can find out more about the vetting process on our website.
Please note we have a strict drugs policy, so once you start your application, you can’t take any recreational drugs and you’ll need to declare your previous drug usage at the relevant stage.
Before you apply, we advise you to consider setting up a separate email address for your contact with us, to ensure your personal and application correspondence remain separate. Try to avoid having identifying features in your email address, such as your first and/or surname and date of birth. This is good practice and will help you to manage your application with us more securely.
The role is based in Central London, so you’ll need to live within a commutable distance. Please consider any financial implications and practicalities before submitting an application. A loan is available to support people relocating to London.
We offer reasonable reimbursement of travel costs for candidates attending in-person appointments during the recruitment and vetting process. Full details will be provided with your interview or assessment invitation.
Reimbursement is discretionary and will only be made in line with the Candidate Expenses Policy, as amended from time to time. Candidates must book their own travel, using the most economical option, and provide original hardcopy receipts for reimbursement.
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. You must be present in the UK to complete each stage of the recruitment process, and we are unable to maintain contact with you during any time you spend overseas. You should not discuss your application, other than with your partner or a close family member.
Right to close applications early
Please be aware that we reserve the right to close applications once a certain number have been received. Please submit your application as soon as possible to avoid missing out. If you have a disability (as defined under the Equality Act 2010) and need additional time to complete your application, please submit your initial application. Then, contact us via the email provided as soon as possible, using the subject line "Reasonable Adjustments Extension" and briefly outline the support you require.
