Register your interest- Customer Development (CD) Industrial Placement (IP) - UK & Ireland

Register your interest- Customer Development (CD) Industrial Placement (IP) - UK & Ireland Unilever is one of the world’s leading suppliers of Beauty & Wellbeing, Personal Care, Home Care and Foods products with sales in over 190 countries and reaching 3.4 billion consumers daily. Founded in Port Sunlight in 1929 by Lord Lever, Unilever has more than 400 brands found in homes around the world, including Dove, TRESemmé, Lynx, Hellman’s, Persil, Domestos, Marmite, Vaseline, Sure, Knorr and Pot Noodle. Our goal is to deliver best‑in‑class performance with market making, unmissably superior brands.

From our earliest days Unilever has been at the forefront of change always striving towards making a world where everyone can live well and within the natural limits of the planet. That’s why our purpose is ‘Brightening Everyday Life For All’. *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: Customer Development Customer Development (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 Customer Development 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)? You’ll develop your commercial knowledge and numerical skills. You’ll 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.

That could mean working 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. You’ll also 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, Heron - Personal Care, Beauty, Home Care & Foods 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 Negotiation Customer Relationship 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. Location:Hybrid working with a minimum of 3 days required weekly within the Kingston office.

Applications open: Monday 14 September 2026 This is a rolling deadline, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment in case applications close early. 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.

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 Stage 4 – Virtual Discovery Centre Attend a half‑day virtual discovery centre alongside fellow candidates.

This will include immersive business challenges and interviews. Stage 5 – In‑Person Discovery Centre Invited to attend an in‑person half‑day 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. 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.

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 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. *We also provide accessibility options such as magnifying glass, decrease/increase font size, change font & colour, screen ruler, screen mask for everyone who would require support. 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! Retail, business & commercial services +3 About us At Unilever, you’re much more than your job title. Here, you can uncover the work you’re most passionate about.

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