Family feeling
You might think working for an organisation you can’t talk about must be a lonely experience. However, there’s a strong family feeling within MI6 – keeping secrets put us in the same boat, and this makes our bond stronger.
Social and support networks
There are many social groups that help bring us together. There’s a gaming club, choir, sports teams, sustainability groups, and groups for gardening and knitting.
There are also support and advocacy networks that help raise awareness, inform, educate and build affinity with those with protected characteristics.
How we support your wellbeing
We know that what we do can be challenging, and we have an Ethics Counsellor to listen to any of your concerns – be they operational, technical or corporate. We also have an in-house group of professionals providing wellbeing across the board, from counselling to financial support, with physiotherapy and occupational health in between.
Above all, MI6 is a small organisation that takes pride in our team, and we do what we can to make where we work a welcoming place to be.
Whilst I know due to the nature of the work we do SIS needs to be secretive externally, I have found the staff are open and happy to answer my questions. Everyone is friendly and very welcoming.
Integrity
We are honest, trustworthy and keep our secrets. We act within the law. We see things through. We work to strict ethical and moral standards, and when we have concerns, we voice them. We are motivated by a sense of duty and service.
Courage
We are tenacious and bold. We take responsibility. We speak truth to power. We are willing to challenge and be challenged, without fear of reprisal or losing face, and are prepared to stand up and be counted when things go wrong. We have moral courage: to operate in difficult circumstances, to tackle the hardest challenges, to leave our comfort zone.
Creativity
We are innovators, willing to experiment because what worked yesterday will not necessarily work tomorrow. We are agile and responsive to change and opportunities. We cherish our traditional skills, but we also embrace the opportunities that the modern world presents.
Respect
We act with humanity. We are a community. We have a sense of Service history. We accept the responsibilities that come with influencing people's lives in secret. We recognise the need for a work–life balance and are respectful of each other's personal and family commitments. We value diversity of thought.
There's a mix of backgrounds and the culture within the Service is kind and representative of the community of people it serves. There is a drive to be representative and the Service is more diverse than I would have thought.
