For the first time in its history, the UK's intelligence agency, MI6, has invited application from the British-born children of migrant parents as it lacks black or other minority ethnic officers in its senior and junior ranks.
Britain's overseas spy agency has also launched a new recruitment campaign with its first-ever television advertisement to attract more spies into the fold.
The agency associated with James Bond films has decided to become slightly more flexible with its recruitment policy, allowing British-born children of migrant parents to apply for the first time in its history.
Until recently, the parents of all applicants had to have lived in the UK for a certain number of years but that will now be changed to help MI6 recruit a more diverse workforce.
Official data shows that there were no black or other minority ethnic officers among the senior ranks and among non-senior employees the proportion was 6.8 per cent as of March 2016.
"There is no standard MI6 officer: if you have what it takes then apply to join us. Our work is exciting, intellectually challenging and it matters," said Alex Younger, the chief of MI6 known as "C", who believes it is vital for his agency to reflect the diversity of the UK population.
"Regardless of background, if you have the skills we need and share our values, I want you to consider a career in intelligence, in a service that reflects today's UK society," he said.
The first-ever TV advert shows a shark circling an aquarium tank watched by a young child. As it comes back into vision he steps back and is caught by his mother the subtle message being that MI6 wants individuals who can read signals and act.
The advert, which is aimed at potential intelligence officers, has the tag line: "Secretly, we're just like you."
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