Security cleared jobs news roundup: October 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 October, 18 Army units undertook an exercise in Albania, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) launched its biggest reform in 50 years, the rebuilding of Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose was announced and the UK-Singapore cyber partnership was strengthened.

Army units undertake Albanian training exercise

Personnel from 18 British Army units have taken part in a major training exercise, landing a force from the sea in southern Albania. Army logisticians, engineers, signallers, medics, police and various other trades were represented in Exercise Austere Wolf.

An entire Theatre Enablement Group (TEG) was brought onto the beach and into a former Soviet naval base to establish a range of facilities and services to support a theoretical follow-on force. The TEG included specialists from areas including intelligence, supply chain logistics and field medical provision.

Major Mark Player, deputy chief of staff of the 104 Theatre Sustainment Brigade, said: “We are simulating how we might need to operate in a real-world situation and doing it alongside our NATO allies here in Albania. We are enabling the training of our units and controlling how they are being tested from an artificial perspective, and then managing that dynamically against the real-time challenges posed by the setting and the environment here at Pashliman.”

Biggest reform of the MoD launched in 50 years

The MoD has launched its biggest reform for 50 years in an attempt to improve its procurement system in light of increasing global threats, growing Russian aggression and conflict in the Middle East. Increased resilience and warfighting readiness is now seen as a necessity that can’t be ignored.

Central to its success will be the recruitment of a national armaments director, whose responsibility it will be to cut down on waste and boost industry. They will be tasked with implementing a resilient supply chain and ensuring the national arsenal is in good shape.

Defence secretary John Healey MP, said: “These vital reforms will make UK military decision making faster, keep the country safer and achieve best value for taxpayers. This government will strengthen UK defence to respond to increasing threats.”

Rebuilding of Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose agreed

Plans have been confirmed for a £100 million project to rebuild the home of the nation’s anti-submarine warfare helicopter fleet, Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose. The initial phase of the construction will see a new engineering training school come to fruition.

Scheduled to be completed in the spring of 2028, the air station at Helston in Cornwall will be built by Kier Construction, with Mott MacDonald providing technical services. Further down the line, contracts will be awarded to rebuild ​​the living quarters, including new messes and a wardroom at the site.

Captain Stuart Irwin, the air station’s commanding officer, said: “This project marks the start of an exciting regeneration and investment in RNAS Culdrose with new, modern facilities. The Engineering Training School is at the heart of our operations to maintain the Merlin helicopter fleet. Our young people, many of whom are just at the start of their naval careers, will learn how to maintain aircraft in a high-tech and modern teaching environment.”

Cyber partnership with Singapore strengthened

The UK hosted Brigadier Edward Chen, defence cyber chief of the Singapore Digital and Intelligence Service (DIS), recently in a bid to strengthen its partnership with the nation. Visiting industry leaders and the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) Cyber Power Workshop allowed the representative to get an insight into the UK’s cyber capabilities.

Both the UK and Singapore are global leaders in the cyber and electromagnetic spheres, where they work closely with international partners to ensure a secure and stable digital environment. The UK sees its collaborations with Singapore as key to addressing shared cyber challenges and building a resilient digital future.

Deputy commander of strategic command, Lt Gen Tom Copinger-Symes, said: “External relationships are vital in this domain which spans national and geographic boundaries.”