A new report has claimed that PAYE umbrella company contractors are disadvantaged by failures in the Government Security Clearance procedures.
The study, which was conducted by the PCG and the Centre for Security and Intelligence Studies at the University of Buckingham, highlighted a security shortcoming in the recruitment process.
John Brazier, the managing director of the PCG, explained that security clearance should keep the wrong people out and let the right ones in, but this is not functioning properly. Some highly qualified contractors found themselves in a catch 22 position whereby they are unable to secure a contract without clearance or obtain clearance without a contract.
The author of the report, Professor Anthony Glees, said the research proves that the National Security system does not work. There appears to be no consistency and candidates who are more than qualified don’t get a look in, whilst people who hold pre-existing security clearance have a distinct advantage.
Although the Cabinet Office has laid down guidelines, they are routinely ignored in order to speed up the recruitment process. Brazier has called on government departments to strictly adhere to the guidelines and make sure UK taxpayers’ money is being spent on the best possible talent.
We need to be confident that the government has an effective vetting system that can handle flexible staff. The current system does not work because the guidelines are not being enforced. An independent forum should be established to monitor the way agencies, contractors and clients act when it comes to security vetting, he concluded.
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