On the dole, Q? Jobs threat as spy agencies share staff

IT’S usually James Bond in peril, but the spy’s faithful gadget-maker Q is at risk too – of losing his job.

Britain’s three intelligence agencies are softening their traditional rivalry by merging a raft of key back-office roles.

MI5, MI6 and GCHQ are advertising for a joint director of estates and similar roles for finance and personnel.

The posts are being created to save money, which could spell danger for real-life versions of Q or Miss Moneypenny.

The agencies were given a £2.6 billion budget boost in 2015, but were ordered to find £1.3 billion in efficiencies.

The Shared Corporate Services organisation will be based in Thames House, MI5’s Central London headquarters which is located across the river from MI6’s distinctive Vauxhall Cross building that has featured in several Bond films.

A Whitehall job advert seeking a ‘Director of MI5/MI6 estates’ asked for candidates with ‘proven experience leading and embedding large-scale transformative change’.

The joint Finance Director advert said: ‘We are in the process of creating a new Shared Corporate Services organisation to deliver a range of services… including HR, Finance, Security, Commercial and Estates.

‘This organisation will sit at the heart of the Agencies’ strategies and mission and will allow us to deliver more whilst keeping our staff safe and secure.’

A Government source told The Mail on Sunday: ‘It will be the first time some of the administrative or other services have been shared in such a way.

‘This is designed to increase efficiency but it certainly doesn’t signal a desire for the three agencies to dilute their own organisation’s identity or to merge buildings.’