Working Culture

Our work might be secret, but that doesn't mean we work in silence or alone!

One thing that strikes new starters - apart from the interesting work and range of career pathways - is how friendly and helpful everyone is. It probably comes from sharing a common bond of doing important work and being in it together as a team. Our values underpin everything we do and contribute to our unique working culture.

While there are grades and structures, you won't feel as though you're in a rigid hierarchy. Mostly, we're open plan, and your manager (and senior management) are as accessible as your colleagues. We want you to do well, and that means supporting you, even when thing's go wrong. We have a 'no blame' culture and a strong sense of fairness. The depth of this support is another thing people quickly notice.

We work hard and our work's important. But it's not without humour, and it's certainly not about 'putting in the hours'. There may be times when you need to work later than usual, but it's not a regular occurrence - and when it happens, you'll be able to recover the time put in.

Another important thing is you can't take work home or even talk about it outside the offices. So when you step out of GCHQ it's officially your own time. And thanks to our enlightened approach to flexible working, there's no shortage of that!