MI6 is looking for real-life Jane Bonds!

The UKs spy agency MI6 has decided to move with the times so that it can attract more women to join its forces. And, that means offering the ladies more - friendly hours, childcare vouchers, a maternity package.

London, May 14 : The UK's spy agency MI6 has decided to move with the times so that it can attract more women to join its forces. And, that means offering the ladies more - friendly hours, childcare vouchers, a maternity package.

And, while fictional secret agent James Bond often gets information by seducing women, MI6 - also known as the Secret Intelligence Service - insists that in real life, women are "absolutely not" used as a "honey-trap".

"The Service does not use this or similar tactics," the Daily Mail quoted the agency, as stating in its website recruitment campaign.

The agency is also out to reassure single women that they will not have to sacrifice their career if they want to start a family.

"We're a family-friendly organisation. Women who've been in SIS for more than 12 months may be given six months' maternity leave on full pay. With few exceptions, partners and children can accompany officers on postings," the website states.

The agency is also going all out to woo women into joining its ranks, and has planned out an extensive recruitment drive, that includes adverts on London buses and Tube trains, as it tries to fill a host of jobs from caterers to drivers, intelligence officers, linguists, surveillance officers and technology experts.

As for why the agency is taking such steps to recruit women, well that's because they account for only 38 per cent of new applicants.

"We need to get that increased so we're not going to have a problem further down the line. We have to reflect the diversity of the UK to do our job properly," a security source said.

Hopefuls will first be screened by a recruitment agency, before going on to a series of tests that include an initial assessment, an interview with a recruiter, a day of tests at agency headquarters and a final selection board.

In parallel with the final stages, they are subjected to six to eight months of security vetting.

ANI