Private sector workers are being “turned away” from interviews for public sector IT roles by recruitment agencies because they do not yet have security clearance, according to an article in The Times newspaper.

The newspaper claimed “recruitment agencies are telling potential candidates that they will not interview them if they have not yet obtained security clearance”.

However, recruiters say government departments often direct recruiters on the necessary procedure. 

Les Berridge, IT recruitment consultant at technical recruiter Matchtech, told Recruiter: “There are a number of misconceptions that we need to address. Recruitment activity in the technology sector is most often ‘urgent’. The reality is that agencies will take a direct steer on this from the individual or department taking forward the recruitment process.”

A Cabinet Office spokeswoman, quoted by The Times, said: “Departments and agencies are reminded regularly of the need to comply with this policy and last month the Cabinet Office wrote to the Recruitment and Employers Confederation (REC) asking them to highlight the policy to its members.”

In response the REC has argued that it is “unfair and simplistic to put the blame on recruitment agencies”, adding: “The Cabinet Office guidance on not making security clearance a pre-requisite includes a specific reference to circumstances that do justify such as approach - such as where there is an urgent need to recruit.”