How to become an IT Contractor - Becoming an IT Contractor

An interesting article in The Times highlights the problem of gaining security clearance for Government / public sector contracts.

The article claims that private sector workers are increasingly finding it hard to access public sector roles.

The problem appears to be most acute in the IT sector, where security clearance is often required.

Recruitment agencies are simply turning away contractors who have not obtained clearance.

Catch-22 situation

Rather like the actors' union, Equity, how can contractors gain security clearance if they cannot even be granted an interview?

One business analyst who could not even reach the interview stage told the paper:

"On asking what I had to do to secure that clearance, I was told I could only obtain it when I had been accepted for an appointment. In other words, until I have a public sector appointment I could not obtain clearance and yet was not able to obtain clearance until I had a public sector appointment."

Government aware of problem

Tom Watson, a Cabinet Office Minister, revealed that officials were aware that some advertisements appeared to be discriminatory against contractors without security clearance:

"... It could breach procurement rules for agencies to advertise for staff or contractors already holding security vetting clearance unless such a requirement can be objectively justified, for example, if the employer is able to demonstrate that a contract is of sufficient urgency or of a very short duration."

Mr Watson said that 'steps were being taken' to address the problem, but given the Government's poor relationship with the contracting community over recent years, don't hold your breath!

Security clearance guidance

The Professional Contractors Group has been aware of this security clearance issue for many years.

The Group has worked closely with the Cabinet Office in creating new guidance for agencies and end clients.

You can read a summary of their findings to date here.

Also try our new guide to security clearance for IT contractors and consultants.

You can also read the response to the article from REC which says that recruitment agents should not be blamed for the security clearance selection process.