Flexible working: throughout most of the five-and-a-half‑year programme, you’ll be able to benefit from flexitime and compressed hours, subject to business need. However, during the initial four‑month training period, you will need to follow fixed full‑time hours (36 hours per week, Monday to Friday). Remote, hybrid or home working are not possible in this role.
This programme is expected to attract significant interest and may close within a short time frame, so early applications are encouraged.
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.
Think you know what sort of person works in data? Think again. On the Intelligence and Data Analyst Development Programme (IDADP), you don’t need to be a technical expert to help protect the UK. If you can work with information in a structured way, spot patterns and make evidence-based decisions, you’ve already got the foundations we’re looking for. The technical skills? We’ll teach you those over the five-and-a-half-year programme.
Why five-and-a-half‑years? Because Intelligence Data Analysts (IDAs) play a vital role in protecting the UK. Across the programme, you’ll gain the foundations, experience and confidence to become a fully trained IDA. You’ll begin with a four‑month full‑time training period where you’ll build core analytical tradecraft and develop the mindset and confidence to succeed. You’ll then take on analyst postings across MI5, starting with a two to two-and-a-half‑year analysis delivery role, followed by one or two further rotations that are designed to stretch your skills and deepen your technical capability. These may involve working across our Central and West London sites.
During your postings, you’ll work with a wide range of data and tools to uncover hard-to-spot patterns, connect activity that appears unrelated, and help investigative colleagues understand threats, risks and opportunities. You’ll learn how to turn complex information into clear insight and play a meaningful role in shaping investigative decisions that help protect the public. Throughout the programme, you’ll be supported every step of the way by your cohort, a development partner, experienced analysts and your line manager.
To join the programme, you must either have: at least one year of full‑time work experience where you have developed and applied the core skills needed for analysis, or a 2:1 degree (or equivalent) where your studies involved working with or interpreting data in a structured way. Most importantly, you can spot patterns, think critically, work with incomplete or ambiguous information and build a clear picture from different sources. Curiosity, a growth mindset and a willingness to learn will be essential to your success. You may be required to pass a hearing test if needed for your post. If you wear hearing aids, you’ll be able to complete the test using them.
As well as 12 learning and development days each year, access to technical upskilling and internal training, and the opportunity to validate your skills through an accreditation process, you’ll enjoy a range of great benefits including 25 days’ annual leave (rising to 30 after 5 years’ service), an excellent pension scheme, an interest-free season ticket loan and more.
At MI5, diversity and inclusion are essential to our mission. To protect the UK, we need a truly diverse workforce that reflects the society we serve — including different identities, backgrounds, lived experiences and ways of thinking. We welcome and encourage applications from everyone, particularly those currently under‑represented in our workforce, such as ethnic minority candidates, women, people with disabilities or neurodivergent conditions, and those from lower socio‑economic backgrounds.
To be eligible to apply, you must be a British Citizen. If you hold dual nationality, of which one component is British, you will nonetheless be considered. Candidates must normally have been resident in the UK for seven out of the last ten years. This is particularly important if you were born outside the UK. You can apply at the age of 17 years, if successful you will not be offered a start date prior to your 18th birthday.
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