For many years, spies used to be recruited from elite schools and universities with just a discreet tap on the shoulder and perhaps a nod and a wink.
But all that has changed: Foreign Secretary William Hague yesterday unveiled plans to take on up to 100 apprentices to "take a degree in spying" as an alternative to a university education.
Mr Hague said the Foreign Office wanted to harness the talents of the X-Box generation - young people who've grown up taking social networking, interactive gaming and all the other benefits of a global internet connection.
The majority of those apprentices will be based GCHQ Cheltenham, the government’s communications headquarters, home of the UK's signal intelligence activities.
Cyber warfare, said Hague, was one of the greatest challenges of our time, and he wanted to find the "young innovators" able to confront it.
Mr Hague was touring the famous WWII codebreaking establishment at Bletchley Park, where, experts say, the success in breaking German and Japanese codes led to the shortening of the war by two years.
During his tour, Mr Hague said: "In the year in which we celebrate the centenary of the birth of Alan Turing, one of the finest mathematical minds our country has ever known and a leading light at Bletchley, we want to step up our efforts to find the most talented people to help sustain and secure the UK's code-breaking and cyber expertise for the future.
"Young people are the key to our country's future success, just as they were during the War. It will be the young innovators of this generation who will help keep our country safe in years to come against threats which are every bit as serious as some of those confronted in the Second World War."
Entry requirements for the apprenticeship scheme are three A-levels or equivalent, of which there should be 2 C grades in a math, technology or science subject.
Working towards a De Montfort University foundation degree in communications, security and engineering, together with a diploma in information technology, their two-year training programme will include work placements.
Most of the apprentices will work at GCHQ, but some will go on to work for MI5 or MI6.
