Register your interest - Marketing Industrial Placement (IP) - UK & Ireland

ABOUT UNILEVER  

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* 

What do we look for?

Success in this role goes far beyond creativity, it demands sharp commercial awareness and the ability to read a market’s performance, identify opportunities, and take decisive steps to improve results. You’ll bring strong social and digital instincts, staying ahead of trends and understanding how audiences behave across platforms. It’s a hands‑on environment where you’ll be driven to get stuck in, make an impact quickly, and keep momentum high. Collaboration is essential, as you’ll work closely with multiple teams and agencies, coordinating moving parts with confidence, clarity, and a genuinely team‑focused mindset. 

With a strong performance culture, challenging goals, and continuous feedback, we will encourage 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.   

Our Marketing Industrial Placements are a chance to showcase your thinking and skills, with total support from a line manager and a buddy.   

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

You’ll be constantly deepening the already expert knowledge of our brands and the people who use them. You’ll use this level of insight to help develop our products’ personalities and bring them to life. That could mean working on the launch of a new fabric softer, undertaking research on the latest trends in hair care, or planning a digital campaign for Lynx.  

Skills required include:

• Market & Commercial Insight – Ability to interpret market performance, identify growth opportunities, and recommend clear, commercially grounded actions. 
• Digital & Social Media Expertise – Strong understanding of platform behaviours, audience trends, and how to leverage digital channels to drive brand impact. 
• Hands‑On Execution & Drive – Proactive mindset with the energy to get involved, move projects forward, and deliver meaningful results. 
• Cross‑Functional Collaboration – Skilled at working with internal teams and managing multiple agencies, ensuring alignment and smooth coordination across all moving parts. 
• Strong Organisational & Analytical Skills – Confident handling data, structuring workstreams, and managing projects with clarity. 
• Microsoft Office Proficiency – Competent in Excel, Outlook, Word, and PowerPoint to support analysis, communication, and planning.

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. 

Programme details  

Location:    

Hybrid working with a minimum of 3 days required weekly either at Kingston or London Blackfriars office – dependant on where you are based.

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.

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.

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!