Security cleared jobs news roundup: January 2024

Keep up-to-date with some of the biggest stories in the world of security cleared jobs in our monthly roundup.

We’re rounding up some of the biggest security cleared stories of the past few weeks. In January, a hackathon helped to find solutions to real-life defence challenges, the DragonFire laser passed a major milestone, commandos headed to the Arctic and a new nuclear waste site was proposed in Lincolnshire. 

Army, Navy, RAF and civil service personnel attend Hackathon

Members of the  Army, Navy, RAF and the civil service have come together to find solutions to real-world challenges at the Defence Hackathon. Ten teams took part in the exercise over the course of five days, solving three defence problems, with support from Microsoft, Amazon and other industry experts.

Each of the teams produced innovative and practical solutions to the challenges. The final part of the process was to brief their solutions to a panel of professionals and senior military personnel helmed by chief of defence people, Vice Admiral Philip Hally.

Private Bruce Williams, an Army Intelligence Corps reservist, said: "I'm so grateful for the opportunity to have participated in the hackathon. I've learned so much from my teammates and industry partners, and I've made some great friends. I'm proud of the solution we developed, and I'm excited to see how it's used to improve defence. I will definitely be attending the hackathon again next year!”

Advanced military laser reaches milestone

The DragonFire laser directed energy weapon (LDEW) system has achieved an important milestone at the MOD’s Hebrides Range, where it is being trialled. The gadget successfully completed the UK’s first high-power firing of a laser weapon against aerial targets.

While the range of the weapon remains classified, it’s been revealed the DragonFire is a line-of-sight device and can engage with any visible target. It’s hoped that in the future, the Army and Royal Navy will be able to use the technology as part of their future air defence measures.

Grant Shapp, defence secretary, said: “This type of cutting-edge weaponry has the potential to revolutionise the battlespace by reducing the reliance on expensive ammunition, while also lowering the risk of collateral damage.”

Navy commandos join NATO exercise in the Arctic

Britain sent some of its Navy commandos to northern Norway to participate in the biggest NATO Arctic exercise seen for a generation. More than 1,000 individuals are taking part in the operation, which required three months of preparation for the -50C temperatures at their encampment in Skjold.

The commandos are building their survival skills and ability to fight on Arctic terrain ahead of a training exercise with Norway, Finland and Sweden. This will help to prepare forces to protect the Arctic should it be threatened with invasion.

Major Ric Cole, spokesperson for the Commando Force, said: “The opening of Arctic trade routes and the constant threats, requires the UK to support NATO and our Scandinavian allies more than ever. Since World War Two and the first use of Commandos, we have trained and operated from the fjords and inlets, pushing deep into the frozen interior.”

Lincolnshire nuclear waste site could create 2,000 jobs a year

A section of the Lincolnshire coast is being considered as a destination to bury nuclear waste deep underground and if it’s approved, could create more than 2,000 jobs annually. Theddlethorpe in East Lindsey was previously a gas terminal, but could see the waste buried 1,000 metres below ground to allow its radioactivity to diminish.

The site would be known as a Geological Disposal Facility (GDF) and would need work to be carried out there for 175 years. That would require employees, with up to 4,000 needed in the first 25 years.

A Nuclear Waste Services spokesperson said: “This means that we will have enough time to upskill and/or reskill local communities for the skill types a GDF will need. We will work with local government and partners to make sure we have things in place so the jobs created by a GDF can be filled by local people."