Unilever
Unilever Industrial Placement Programme - Sales - UK
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Unilever Industrial Placement (IP) Programme
Our Unilever Industrial Placement (IP) Programme is designed for students who are completing a year in industry as part of their degree studies.
In the UK, our IP programme is a 12-month development scheme, for which we recruit top-performing undergraduate talent, with fresh ideas who are eager to gain exposure to real-world challenges.
All new joiners are given real responsibility from day one and have an opportunity to make a meaningful impact on the business. Alongside this, they receive one-to-one mentoring and support to aid their development and help them achieve their goals. These programmes provide a variety of experiences, enabling individuals to learn, grow, develop personally and professionally, build confidence and gain a comprehensive understanding of the business.
ABOUT UNILEVER
Unilever is one of the world's leading FMCG companies, home to iconic brands including Dove, Vaseline, TRESemmé, Lynx, Persil, Domestos, Surf, Radox, Sure and Liquid I.V. Through products used by millions of people every day, we help improve health, wellbeing, confidence and care around the world.
Established over 100 years ago, Unilever has a proud heritage of innovation and a long-standing belief that great brands, great people and responsible business go hand in hand.
Today, we are transforming into a faster, more focused growth company centred on Beauty & Wellbeing, Personal Care and Home Care. Through world-class brands, cutting-edge science and technology, digital innovation and AI-enabled capabilities, we are building unmissably superior products and experiences for consumers around the world.
A career at Unilever offers the opportunity to work at global scale while helping shape the future of some of the world's most recognised brands. Our people are at the heart of everything we do, bringing curiosity, creativity and passion to solve real business challenges and make a meaningful impact every day.
As we receive a high volume of applications, please make sure to read the job descriptions on our website carefully and apply for the ONE function you are most interested in. Only your first application will be considered
THE ROLE
Sales ensures that our brands are available wherever the shopper wishes to buy them. The focus of the role is to manage relationships with retailers to effectively drive our business and theirs. Our aim with the retailer is to develop and execute our overall brand & customer strategy and customer business plan, to drive the growth and profitability agenda within Unilever. Our customers recognise the effectiveness with which our work drives our business and theirs, which has led to several retailers (Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Asda and Boots) recognising us as their supplier of the year.
Whilst no two Sales Industrial Placement is the same you will get the chance to work with exceptional brands and develop your analytical, commercial, and marketing skills whilst working with some of the UK’s leading retailers. As part of the programme, you might get the opportunity to work in either the commercial team, the commercial strategy team, the shopper marketing team, or the category management team. Regardless of the team, you will have a strong support network, a bespoke training programme, and the opportunity to partner with multiple teams across the wider business.
What could your day-to-day role include (depending on your role)?
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- Develop your commercial knowledge and numerical skills.
- Build partnerships with our wide range of customers – Grocers, Health and Beauty Retailers, Value Stores, and E-commerce Businesses - so that we reach our target markets.
- Work together to maximise a new product launch, recommending the right range of products, developing marketing programmes, negotiating an annual business plan, or looking for new business opportunities.
- Support the execution of trade and promotional plans to drive volume and visibility whilst monitoring sales performance and identifying growth opportunities.
- Work closely with our internal teams – Marketing, Supply Chain, Finance – to ensure everyone is aligned to deliver the best outcome for our retailers & consumers.
Our people have the opportunity to help build a bright future for our world, making a big impact every day, on a local level, across Europe and the globe. We have a proven tradition of developing our purpose-driven leaders and encouraging innovative thinking.
Some of our positions you could be allocated to include:
- Customer Account Executive, Tesco - Home Care
- Customer Account Executive, Heron - Personal Care, Beauty, Home Care & Foods
- Shopper Marketing Executive – Home Care
- Category Executive – Personal Care
What do we look for?
You don’t need a specific degree background, this is an area where your personality will set you apart. It takes a special blend of ambition, people skills, and commercial acumen; you’ll need to be credible and confident in front of people and have a passion for growing businesses, coupled with the power to influence and negotiate. We also look for candidates who show a curiosity to understand data trends and financial commercials.
With a strong performance culture, challenging goals, and continuous feedback, we will support you to achieve your potential in an inclusive environment. 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.
Skills required include:
- Selling
- Commercial Strategy
- Negotiation
- Customer Relationship
- Microsoft Office skills (Excel, Outlook, Word, PowerPoint)
Please note, 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.
Programme details
Location:
Hybrid working with a minimum of 3 days required weekly within the Kingston office.
Applications open:
Monday 14 September 2026
Applications close:
This is a rolling deadline, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment in case applications close early.
Start date:
June 2027
Industrial Placement (IP) Application Process
Please note: you will only progress to the next stage if you are successful in the previous stage.
Stage 1 – Online Application & IP Simulation
Complete an online application form before completing our interactive IP simulation, designed to give you insight into our organisation and the programme you’re applying for. This will prepare you for a series of situational judgement questions based on realistic business scenarios.
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Stage 2 – Online Assessments.
Complete a numerical reasoning assessment, an online test that measures your ability to interpret and draw conclusions from numerical data and verbal Reasoning assessment an online test that measures your ability to understand and evaluate written information.
Stage 3 – Digital Interview
Complete a video interview.
Please note, we do not use AI as a screening tool in our recruitment process therefore, your digital interview submission will be reviewed by a real person
Stage 4 – Pre-Screening Interview
Attend a virtual pre-screening interview with a member of our recruitment team.
Stage 5 – In-Person Discovery Centre
Attend an in-person discovery centre alongside fellow candidates. This will give you the opportunity to visit a Unilever office, meet and interview with business leaders, and work on function-related business challenges.
What Can Unilever offer YOU?
- A competitive Salary of £27,898.00
- End of Placement Bonus
- Subsidised Gym Memberships - availability varies by site
- 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.
- Opportunity to join one of our Future Careers Development Teams such as Outreach, Digi, Community & Wellbeing and many more! By joining a team, you can grow business-critical skills, develop Unilever Behaviours, and make a meaningful contribution to Future Careers.
- 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.
To find out more about Future Careers at Unilever UK, check out our Instagram page!
At Unilever, diversity is about embracing differences, championing inclusion, creating** possibilities, and growing together for better business performance.
Join our vibrant and inclusive workplace that champions diversity and inclusion.
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.
Do you require any adjustments in the application or assessment process?
If you have any questions about your application, require reasonable adjustments to complete any part of the application process or wish to discuss any mitigating circumstances, please contact the Talent Acquisition team using the following details. If adjustments are required, the team will reach out to discuss available accessibility options. E.g., If required extending time spent in any ‘timebound’ assessments/interviews
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