Good secondments are not easy to deliver.
An HMRC spokesman said: "HMRC gives careful consideration to the potential risks, as well as how to mitigate any potential conflicts of interest, before any such secondments are agreed.
"Companies such as the big six energy firms do not lend their staff to government for nothing – they expect a certain degree of influence, insider knowledge and preferential treatment in return," said Caroline Lucas, the Green party MP, when the secondments were revealed.
Tom Burke, a former head of Friends of the Earth who worked as special adviser to several Conservative ministers, said: "The secondments are pernicious, but the real power is how they shape the discourse through the media – that is where their many lobbyists do their real work.
Tom Burke, a former head of Friends of the Earth who worked as special adviser to several Conservative ministers, said: "The secondments are pernicious, but the real power is how [the energy companies] shape the discourse through the media – that is where their many lobbyists do their real work.
These secondments are frequently seen as mentoring by the organisation.
Two days prior to graduation, he volunteered for an Air Force secondment, which was later made permanent.
Global consulting firm Accenture, which has a similar voluntary secondment programme, is now mainstreaming non-profit assignments into employees' core project workflow.
The advantages of the secondment initiative is that, in addition to the specialized skills and expert training acquired, the fellows also broaden their professional network and obtain a different research or working perspective.
