I am also going through the same process. My understanding is that for security clearance you need to have minimum 5 year residency not 5 year employment record. But what I am trying to find out is whether you have to be in Uk for last 5 years consecutive or not? . As I moved to UK in 2004 and stayed here for 3 years. Then I went out of UK in 2007 for 1 year and at present it is about 2 month short of 5 years . Will it affect my security clearance ?