24th May 2018 • video
The MI6 wants more British Asians to become spies - with this TV ad
Image: MI6
Want to become the brown James Bond?
For the first time in its history, Her Majesty's Secret Service is airing a TV ad campaign tonight, with an aim to recruit a more diverse workforce. It is titled, "Secretly, we're just like you."
In new figures released to the media MI6 also admitted it had none of its senior staff were from a British minority background. Just under 7% of its junior staff were non-white.
The MI6 has historically struggled to attract women and people from ethnic minority backgrounds.
It has also relaxed its rules to allow recruitment of British citizens whose parents were born abroad. They were disqualified earlier.
MI6 Chief of the service, Alex Younger, told the BBC today that it needed a more diverse workforce "to meet the challenges we face" and avoid group-think.
"People who challenge the status quo - in a respectful way - are valued," he said.
The average starting salary is around £35,000 to £37,000 for the intelligence officer positions and all applicants must pass a vetting process.
For the first time in its history, Her Majesty's Secret Service is airing a TV ad campaign tonight, with an aim to recruit a more diverse workforce. It is titled, "Secretly, we're just like you."
In new figures released to the media MI6 also admitted it had none of its senior staff were from a British minority background. Just under 7% of its junior staff were non-white.
The MI6 has historically struggled to attract women and people from ethnic minority backgrounds.
A snapshot of diversity within MI6 - Senior Civil Service made up of 24.1 percent female staff, 0.0 percent black and minority ethnic staff pic.twitter.com/XmXM0QdVvh
— Rohit Kachroo (@RohitKachrooITV) May 24, 2018
It has also relaxed its rules to allow recruitment of British citizens whose parents were born abroad. They were disqualified earlier.
MI6 Chief of the service, Alex Younger, told the BBC today that it needed a more diverse workforce "to meet the challenges we face" and avoid group-think.
"People who challenge the status quo - in a respectful way - are valued," he said.
The average starting salary is around £35,000 to £37,000 for the intelligence officer positions and all applicants must pass a vetting process.
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