Defence is evolving
Copello is the expert recruitment partner you need to secure top talent, ensuring immediate results in response to growing threats.
Our teams are focused on ensuring we develop networks across Air, Sea, Land, Cyber and Space. We are embedded in the sector and work closely with our clients to understand their needs whether it be existing projects, dealing with legacy equipment or within R&D.
Copello are proud of its track record of recruiting diverse candidates into our clients, helping towards changing the face of the industry.
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Successful across the following areas
- System Engineers
- Technical Authorities
- Service Delivery
- Service Design, Solutions and Systems Architecture
- Trials, Validation & Verification Engineers
- Electrical Design Engineers Requirements
- ILS Engineers and Supportability Consultants
- Configuration Engineers and Managers
- Modelling & Simulation Engineers Software
- Engineers & Software Architects
- Risk Managers and Consultants
- Mechanical Design Engineers and Managers
- Project and Programme Management
- Bid Management
- Commercial, Procurement and Supply Chain
- Safety & Reliability Engineers

Successful delivery of critical projects
Copello has significant experience of working within the Defence sector either directly or throughout the supply chain. Our focus is establishing networks of talent in core areas that have significant impact on the successful delivery of critical projects.
Our specialist team focus specifically within the defence and government services industries providing talent across a number of vital security projects

Proven success
Copello work with clients across Aerospace and Aviation, Marine, Land, Space and Nuclear. Our focus is establishing long standing relationships with our clients and candidates built on our value, trust. This value underpins our approach to everything we do.
The Defence sector is continually changing and needs new skills and approaches. Our commitment is establishing talent networks for clients that ensure current projects are delivered on time as well as building future talent.
Security Clearance explained
With such a variety of roles available, it is often necessary to gain levels of security clearance. There are different levels of security clearance. Depending on the industry, position or site location, personnel could be instructed to receive a specified level of clearance in order to meet the contract requirements.
Copello have a track record in responding to the need for specialist teams quickly and understand the levels of security clearance required. As such, we have developed a talent pool of security cleared candidates (BC, CTC, SC and DV cleared) to provide an agile service to our clients.
Copello will guide you through this process to ensure all the requirements are met in a timely and efficient manner.
DBS checks are for positions involving certain activities and high levels of responsibility, such as teaching children or dealing with vulnerable adults, and can also be obtained for certain other professions such as judicial appointments or RSPCA officers.
A DBS check is carried out and results in certificates being issued to an individual. Employers can then ask to see this certificate to ensure that they are recruiting suitable people into their organisation.
There are four levels of check:
- Basic check
- Standard check
- Enhanced check
- Enhanced check with barred list(s)
The information contained on each type of check is different.
Get in touchAlthough not an official security check, it does provide an insight to a candidate’s integrity, and is used as standard in government for roles such as civil servants, armed forces, and government contractors. The check includes verifying nationality, ID, and immigration status, as well as employment history and a basic criminal records check. This check cannot be carried out by the applicant and must be completed by the organisation offering employment.
Get in touchThis type of check will be carried out for any applicant that may have access to sensitive or military information, or be working with high profile / public figures if a vulnerability to terrorist attack is identified.
Get in touchA security check (SC or SC cleared) is required for people who have substantial access to secret or occasional controlled access to secret assets.
A full security check clearance process comprises:
- A baseline personnel security standard (BPSS)
- Departmental/company records check
- Security questionnaire
- Criminal record check
- Credit reference check
- Security service check
Developed Vetting (DV) is the highest level of security clearance and is required for people with substantial unsupervised access to secret assets or for those working in the intelligence or security agencies.
A full DV security clearance process comprises the following mandatory vetting stages:
- A baseline personnel security standard (BPSS)
- Departmental / company records check
- DV security clearance questionnaire
- Criminal record check
- Credit reference check
- Security service check
- Check of medical and psychological information provided
SIA Operates the compulsory licensing of individuals working in specific sectors of the private security industry within the UK. The activities licensed under the Private Security Industry 2001 regulation pertain to Manned Guarding.
Get in touchNATO has four levels of security classification: NATO Restricted (NR), NATO Confidential (NC), NATO Secret (NS) and COSMIC Top Secret (CTS). NATO’s clearance levels function independent of any clearance levels for other nations. However, it is understood that for most NATO nations, granting of a NATO security clearance is handled in a similar manner to that of obtaining a national security clearance.
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Copello Core
Contingency hiring at its best, Copello Core provides solutions for Permanent, Fixed-Term and Contract hires, offering the fastest and most-effective way to secure top talent.

Copello Partner
Copello Partner is our exclusive recruitment solution, ideal for businesses looking to hire multiple people at pace.

Copello Project
Copello Project is our work package solution for clients who need it. Ideal for large established businesses who need to ‘package up’ several roles for quick and easy delivery.

Copello Search
Copello Search is our comprehensive executive search solution for those looking to make a strategic hiring decision.
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