Becoming James Bond: GCHQ Apprenticeships in British Intelligence

As you know, we’ve had some ups and downs regarding education. The Mad Professor is now happily resitting the first year of his A levels, but this isn’t without some hassle, and his future is by no means certain - he wants to go into the Navy and become a pilot, like his Dad, but the armed forces are taking on less and less people these days, so other options are always good. Imagine the shock horror, then, when we discovered you can be a REAL LIFE JAMES BOND. Oh yes, GCHQ, the Government Communications Headquarters (a British Intelligence agency) has just announced for the first time that they’re going to be providing apprenticeships. I know, right? Proper, paid two year courses with the finest intelligence agency in the world - getting your mitts on some of the world’s most cutting edge technology and helping to tackle counter espionage, terrorism and organised crime. EXCITING!

This course is not just fabulous on the outside, either. There’s proper university-delivered education, work placements and full on technical training too. GCHQ is based at Cheltenham, but in the second year, who knows where the students will end up (it’s secret, after all). Plus there are proper qualifications to be had: a Foundation Degree and a level 4 Diploma in IT Professional Competence. Plus, of course, you might even get to be a real life secret agent at the end of it. Imagine the doors this would open!

Got a teenager who’d love this too? They’ll need, or be expected to gain by September 2013, three A levels (or equivalent) two of which must be at C or above in science, technology, engineering or maths related subjects. You can find out more, and register for their open days in Manchester, London and Cheltenham, at www.careersinbritishintelligence.co.uk.