London, with time split across two locations in Central and West London (Zones 1 and 2)
£40,428 rising to £43,705 after 1 year
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.
At MI5, our Intelligence and Data Analysts (IDAs) help protect the UK from threats such as terrorism and hostile state activity. They turn complex, incomplete information into clear insight, work closely with investigative teams, and contribute directly to decisions that keep people safe.
If you’ve ever wondered how this work happens behind the scenes, and whether this career could be right for you, our online insight event is designed to give you a clear, honest introduction to the role.
Whether you’re a graduate, exploring a career change or simply curious about what intelligence analysis involves, this session will give you a clear introduction to the IDA role and the structured five-and-a-half-year pathway that leads into it.
As part of our continued work to address under-representation in our teams, this event is only open to people from Black, Asian or other ethnic minority backgrounds*.
The opportunity
The Intelligence and Data Analyst Development Programme (IDADP) is our structured five-and-a-half-year pathway into the IDA role. Through a combination of intensive training, real investigative work and continuous development, you’ll learn how to analyse data, uncover patterns, spot connections others miss and produce insight that supports live investigations.
The insight event will walk you through how the programme works, what each stage looks like, and the skills and mindset that help analysts succeed.
Event details
You can choose from one of two online insight events on Wednesday 30 September 2026 at 12pm or 5pm. Once you’ve registered, you’ll receive an invitation with joining details. The content will be the same across both sessions, so you can pick which time suits you best.
During the session, you’ll hear from current analysts, learn how the IDADP works, and have the chance to ask questions during a live Q&A.
We’ll cover:
- what it’s like to be an Intelligence and Data Analyst at MI5
- how our five-and-a-half-year development programme works
- the application process
- our security vetting process
Is it right for me?
Becoming an Intelligence and Data Analyst may sound daunting, but many of the qualities we look for are ones you may already have developed through higher education or full-time work. To thrive on the IDADP, you’ll need to be able to work with information in a structured way – analysing details, spotting patterns, making evidence-based decisions and building a clear picture even when information is incomplete.
If you enjoy solving problems, can communicate your thinking clearly and feel comfortable collaborating with colleagues to build shared understanding, the IDADP could be perfect for you. Curiosity, adaptability and a willingness to learn will help you get the most from the programme. The technical skills? We’ll teach you those.
There’s no single “type” of person who thrives here. We welcome people with different backgrounds, perspectives and experiences, because a wide range of viewpoints makes our insight, and us, stronger.
If you’re unsure whether the IDADP is right for you, that’s absolutely fine. This event is designed to help you explore the role, understand the pathway and make an informed decision.
Before you register
Please note, registering your interest does not constitute a job application and has no impact on the recruitment process. Anyone who registers their interest and then decides to apply, will need to complete an application form once the application window opens.
When applications open on Thursday 1 October at 10am, we welcome applications from all eligible candidates. All applications are assessed solely on merit. This programme attracts significant interest, so we may only be open for a very short time. Please plan to apply as soon as the window opens.
You must be a British citizen or hold dual British nationality. If you’re successful at the end of the recruitment process, you’ll need to undergo Developed Vetting and comply with our no drugs policy. You must complete your registration, application and all recruitment processes from within the UK. See our Applying for jobs page for full eligibility details.
*We are confining registrations of interest for our insight events to those from ethnic minority backgrounds, due to their current underrepresentation in our workforce. Once the IDADP is open for applications, we welcome all eligible candidates to apply, regardless of their ethnicity, race, gender, sexuality, disability, neurodivergence and/or any other characteristic(s). Please also check our nationality eligibility criteria requirements.
