Research & Development Industrial Placement 2025

Unilever is one of the world’s leading suppliers of Food, Home, and Personal Care products with sales in over 190 countries and reaching 3.4 billion consumers daily. Founded in Port Sunlight (Wirral) in 1929 by Lord Lever, Unilever has more than 400 brands found in homes around the world, including Dove, TRESemmé, Lynx, Lifebuoy, Shea Moisture, Persil, Domestos, Ben & Jerry’s, Magnum, Marmite, The Vegetarian Butcher, Graze, Vaseline, Sure, Wall’s, Colman’s and Pot Noodle.   

Faced with the challenge of climate change and the desire for human development, we want to move towards a world where everyone can live well and within the natural limits of the planet. That’s why our purpose is ‘to make sustainable living commonplace’.

What do we look for? 

In R&D, we require a strong technical qualification in a Chemical, Biological, Physical, or Food-related Science. We also accept Chemical/Material and Engineering-related disciplines. You will grasp the importance of commercial success and be passionate about making an impact, contributing towards a more sustainable brighter future through exciting and forward-thinking innovations. 

With a strong performance culture, challenging goals, and continuous feedback, we will help you to achieve your potential. You will thrive by gaining exposure to real business challenges where your energy and fresh thinking will have an impact. First-hand experience- it’s the fastest way to learn. 

Students must have completed the penultimate year of their undergraduate degree by the time they start their placement and be returning to study after their placement. 

What could your day-to-day role include (depending on your role)?

You’ll be undertaking research to gain insight into what consumers want and need and developing the technology and science to bring new innovations to life. You’ll be helping to make our brands even healthier, more appealing, more efficient, and more environmentally friendly – improving our products in any way possible. Our people have the opportunity to make a big impact every day on a local level, across Europe and the globe. 

Some of the R&D areas that you could be allocated to working in include

• Technical Project Lead in any of our Business Group teams
• Consumer Technical Insights
• Science & Technology

Skills required include

• Technical Communication
• Agile Delivery
• Data Analytics
• Organisational Awareness
• Microsoft Office skills (Excel, Outlook, Word, PowerPoint)

Please note, that at Unilever, we have development programmes, the skills above are skills that would be good to have at the beginning however you will develop them over the course of the 12 months.

Our application process involves

Step 1: Online Application

Complete the online application form and tell us about your motivation for choosing Unilever and your selected programme. It is a simple and easy process with the option of filling out your details using your LinkedIn profile.

Step 2: Digital Interview

If your online application is successful, you will be invited to complete a digital interview.

Step 3: Virtual Discovery Centre

You will be invited to spend a virtual day in the life with us, immersing yourself in business challenges and an Interview.

What can Unilever offer YOU?

• A competitive Salary of £24,787.75
• End of Placement Bonus
• Discounted Staff Shop
• Opportunity to work directly with our renowned and exciting brands in a flexible and hybrid working environment.
• 28 days (pro rata) of holiday inclusive of bank holidays. Once you have completed 12 worked weeks, under the Agency Workers Regulation your holiday entitlement will increase to 33 days inclusive of bank holidays, pro rata for the term of this placement.  

 Diversity at Unilever is about championing inclusion, embracing differences, creating possibilities, and growing together for better business performance. To celebrate this, we have internal networks and communities created to raise awareness for a cause, which work to create change within the business. These networks include Proud, Empower, Enable and Unity and our communities include Thriving Parents, Carers, and All Inclusion Club.  

We give full and fair consideration to all applicants, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership, and pregnancy and maternity.   

We are a key advocate of well-being and offer a variety of support for our people including hubs, programmes, and development opportunities. We strive to achieve a family-friendly and inclusive workplace and to, above all, create possibilities for all.  

What support will you receive? 

• A dedicated buddy to help you onboard and learn about the business.
• An experienced Line Manager to develop your knowledge and understanding across the year. 
• Connections with the Graduates (UFLPs) who can share helpful tips on how to be successful at Unilever. 

Do you require any adjustments in the application or assessment process?   

If you do need any adjustments, please inform the Talent Acquisition team who will contact you to discuss the accessibility options available. E.g., If required extending time spent in any ‘timebound’ assessments/interviews.  

*We also provide accessibility options such as magnifying glass, decrease/increase the font size, change font & colour, screen ruler, and screen mask for everyone who requires them.

Please contact the Talent Acquisition team at futurecareers.recruitment@unilever.com

To find out more about Unilever, including more information about our Employee Resource Groups, please click here.  

Location

Hybrid working with a minimum of 2 days required weekly either at the Port Sunlight (Wirral) or Leeds office – depending on where you are based.

Discovery centres

Our virtual Discovery Centres will be running from the week commencing the 27th of January 2025.

Closing date

We will be closing applications on the 6th of January 2025, however, if we receive enough applications for the business area before this, applications will close accordingly. We, therefore, advise you to apply as early as possible to avoid disappointment.  

If you have any questions about your application or if you require any reasonable adjustments to be made to complete any part of the application process, please contact the Future Careers Team. If you would like to discuss any mitigating circumstances before making an application, please also contact the team using the following contact details:  

Phone: 020 3650 2304 or e-mail: futurecareers.recruitment@unilever.com.  

Recruitment fraud  

Cybercriminals advertise fake job adverts with prestigious employers as a way of stealing information or even defrauding individuals out of money. In the most sophisticated cases, they will set up fake websites, which have a similar address to companies like Unilever. They even conduct fake telephone interviews and then offer candidates a role with the proviso they pay a fee for background checks or to cover work visa costs. These types of attacks are becoming more common as more people are looking for employment in the economic climate.  

How is Unilever tackling this?  

Many of Unilever’s recruitment sites publish a warning to candidates about recruitment fraud. The Cyber Security team also proactively scans for signs of people setting up fake Unilever sites and acts to close them down.  

What can I do?  

If you become aware of potential recruitment fraud, spot fake Unilever recruitment adverts or fake LinkedIn profiles, report them via Una Live Chat.  

Unilever does not accept responsibility or liability for any candidates who are financially impacted by recruitment fraud. Your vigilance is key!