Unilever Industrial Placement Programme - Communications and Corporate Affairs UK

Unilever; Kingston; Hybrid; GBP 28,000 - 31,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary £27,898.00 per year

End of Placement Bonus

Subsidised gym memberships

Staff discount shop

Hybrid and flexible working

28 days holiday (pro rata)

Future Careers Development Teams

Job summary

Unilever is offering an Industrial Placement (IP) in Communications & Corporate Affairs in the UK. The 12-month programme provides real responsibility from day one, mentoring, and exposure to strategic communications across brands and functions.

Start date mid-2027 with hybrid working and London/Kingston office options. You will gain experience in executive communications, reputation management, policy engagement, and stakeholder advocacy while developing skills in research, digital content, and

Qualifications

• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to build relationships with a wide range of stakeholders.
• Curiosity about business, society, public affairs and current affairs.
• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to analyse information and identify insights.
• Confidence working independently and as part of a team.
• Adaptability and willingness to learn in a fast-paced environment.
• Taking initiative and proactively identifying opportunities and solutions.
• Microsoft 365 skills including PowerPoint, Excel, Word, Outlook and Teams.

Responsibilities

• Support communications campaigns that build understanding and engagement among internal and external stakeholders.
• Create content for digital, social media, web and internal communications channels.
• Assist media relations, thought leadership and executive visibility initiatives.
• Monitor emerging issues and policy developments that could impact Unilever.
• Conduct research and analysis to inform business decisions and stakeholder engagement strategies.
• Support advocacy initiatives and engagement with political, industry and societal stakeholders.
• Coordinate campaigns, events and leadership communications.
• Develop AI-enabled communications and digital engagement strategies.
• Measure communications effectiveness through data and stakeholder feedback.

Skills

Written communication

Verbal communication

Relationship building

Curiosity

Organisational skills

Analytical thinking

Independence

Initiative

Adaptability

Tools

PowerPoint

Excel

Word

Outlook

Teams

Job description

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.

THE ROLE

A placement in Communications & Corporate Affairs puts you at the heart of helping one of the world's leading businesses build trust, strengthen reputation and create the conditions for growth. Our function brings together Communications, Corporate Affairs and Sustainability to influence the issues that matter most to Unilever, our brands and the stakeholders we serve. Applying to this role will place you within our Communications and/or Corporate Affairs teams. If you are interested in Sustainability, please note that there is a separate Sustainability role advertised. The work we do is focused on protecting and strengthening Unilever's reputation, helping the business navigate an increasingly complex external environment and ensuring our strategy, brands and leaders are visible, trusted and understood. From strategic storytelling and executive communications to reputation management, media relations, policy engagement and stakeholder advocacy, you'll work on real business challenges while developing skills in communications, influence, research, content creation, digital channels, campaigning and strategic thinking. This is a unique opportunity to gain exposure to some of the most important conversations shaping business, society and sustainability today while working alongside experienced communications and corporate affairs professionals.

WHERE COULD YOUR PLACEMENT TAKE YOU?

One of the unique aspects of this placement is the breadth of opportunities available across Communications & Corporate Affairs. You could be placed within our Corporate Centre, helping shape Unilever's global reputation, public policy positions, media engagement, leadership communications, content strategy or internal communication programmes. You may also work alongside teams supporting areas such as Sustainability, Legal, Finance, Human Resources, Supply Chain or Digital & Technology. Alternatively, you could be embedded within one of Unilever's Business Groups, helping shape communications and corporate affairs activity closer to our brands, markets and consumers across Beauty & Wellbeing, Personal Care or Home Care. This means no two placements are the same. Whether you're developing executive communications, supporting reputation and policy programmes, creating content, managing stakeholder engagement, analysing emerging issues or helping deliver major campaigns, you'll gain first-hand experience of how communications, reputation and corporate affairs help drive business performance, growth and trust.

WHAT COULD YOUR DAY-TO-DAY ROLE INCLUDE?

• Supporting communications campaigns that build understanding, trust and engagement among internal and external stakeholders
• Creating content for digital, social media, web and internal communications channels
• Supporting media relations activity, thought leadership programmes and executive visibility initiatives
• Monitoring emerging issues, reputation trends and policy developments that could impact Unilever
• Conducting research and analysis to inform business decisions and stakeholder engagement strategies
• Supporting advocacy initiatives and engagement with political, industry and societal stakeholders
• Helping coordinate major campaigns, business moments, events and leadership communications
• Supporting the development of AI-enabled communications, digital engagement and content strategies
• Measuring communications effectiveness through data, insights and stakeholder feedback

WHAT DO WE LOOK FOR?

We're looking for curious, proactive and collaborative individuals who are excited by the power of communications, reputation and influence. You'll enjoy working with people, asking questions, solving problems and turning complex information into clear and engaging communications. You'll be comfortable managing multiple priorities, adapting to changing circumstances and bringing fresh thinking to challenges. With a strong performance culture, challenging goals and continuous feedback, we'll help you achieve your potential in an inclusive environment. You'll gain exposure to real business challenges where your energy, ideas and perspective can make a genuine impact. No specific degree subject is required, although studies in areas such as Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, Media, Politics, International Relations, Marketing and Business.

SKILLS REQUIRED INCLUDE:

• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to build relationships and work effectively with a wide range of stakeholders
• Curiosity about business, society, public affairs and current affairs
• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail
• Ability to analyse information and identify key insights
• Confidence working both independently and as part of a team
• Adaptability and willingness to learn in a fast-paced environment
• Taking initiative and proactively identifying opportunities and solutions
• Microsoft 365 skills (PowerPoint, Excel, Word, Outlook and Teams)

Programme details

Location: Hybrid working with a minimum of 3 days required weekly at our London Blackfriars or Kingston office.
Applications open: Monday 28 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

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 – 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!

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 wellbeing 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. 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.