AkzoNobel

The overview

AkzoNobel is a global paints and speciality chemicals producer. It’s the company behind well-known brands such as Dulux, Hammerite, Polyfilla and Cuprinol. Its products are bought by a range of people – from customers in DIY stores, to airlines looking for protective coatings for their planes, and even technology companies in need of speciality plastics for MP3 players and laptops.

Fruits of a merger

The history of AkzoNobel can be traced back as far as the eighteenth century, when Sadolin (a wood protection treatment) was founded in Denmark, but AkzoNobel as it’s known today is the result of the merger between Akzo and Nobel Industries in 1994. The company currently employs over 55,000 people worldwide and in 2011 generated turnover of €15,697m. AkzoNobel is truly a global company, with offices in 80 countries including; Australia, Brazil, Singapore, New Zealand, Canada, Russia and Japan. The main UK offices are based in Felling and Slough.

Three sales areas

Its 2011 report showed a rise in sales by 7%, 8% and 8% in its three main divisions.

AkzoNobel’s products are divided into three sales areas: decorative paints, speciality paints and performance coatings. The company’s 2011 report showed an increase in sales by 7%, 8% and 8% respectively. Revenue is fairly split between sectors, with decorative paints generating €5,296m, performance coatings €5,170m, and speciality paints €5,335m for the year.

China: ‘integral’ to growth

AkzoNobel has big plans to increase its presence in Asia – particularly China, which it describes as ‘integral’ to its strategic growth. There is already evidence of improvement, with the 2011 report showing revenue from decorative paints in China was up by 16% on 2010. The company has set itself a revenue target from China of $3 billion by 2015.

Closer to home… in July 2011 AkzoNobel announced it was investing £100 million in a new manufacturing plant in the north east of England. The new plant aims to reduce the amount of energy AkzoNobel uses by around 60%.

Did you know?

• AkzoNobel is in partnership with the McLaren Group – providing the coatings for their fastest cars
• Wimbledon’s centre court roof is coated by AkzoNobel products
• AkzoNobel runs colour seminars and workshops to help customers and clients get the most out of its products
• One out of every three aircrafts is coated with an AkzoNobel product

In the last 12 months AkzoNobel…

• Painted Manchester City Football Club’s plane
• Invested £9 million in a new R&D Centre in Felling near Newcastle
• Made a number of acquisitions, including Chinese surfactant producer Boxing Oleochemicals and Italian packaging coatings company Metlac Group
• Updated the world via Twitter as one of its employees swam the English Channel

Salary and benefits

Salaries vary depending on the role applied for, but will be in the £25,500 to £27,500 range.

Paid internships

Interns are usually paid, but again, details are specific to each role and only published as and when jobs are advertised. In January 2011 a 12-week internship was advertised at £15,600 pro rata.

Other benefits

• 25 days’ holiday
• Pension scheme (with company contribution)
• Private healthcare
• Staff discount
• Flexible benefits package