Recommendation 17

When asked about the mismatch between UKSV’s claims of increased productivity and staff survey results showing a high level of disengagement, UKSV’s chief executive pointed to the innate pride of its staff in the work they do to protect national security but admitted that many are suffering from change fatigue. Staff have had to contend with the move of vetting services from the former Foreign & Commonwealth Office and MOD to the Cabinet Office, changing systems, processes and policies and most recently, changes to some of the skills and tools staff use for vetting because of digitisation and automation.42 UKSV’s chief executive suggested that staff “would like a bit of stability and some investment” as “they have not had a period of stability for a very long time”.43