Communications Placement

Industrial Placement (IP) - UK & Ireland 

FUNCTION: Communications & Corporate Affairs

To apply to this placement, please fill in the application form here.

Your Future Employer - Unilever

Unilever is one of the world’s leading suppliers of Food, Home and Personal Care products with sales in over 190 countries and reaching 3.4 billion consumers a day. Founded in Port Sunlight (Wirral) in 1929 by Lord Lever, Unilever has more than 400 brands found in homes around the world, including Dove, TRESemmé, Lynx, Lifebuoy, Shea Moisture, Persil, Domestos, Ben & Jerry’s, Magnum, Marmite, The Vegetarian Butcher, Graze, Vaseline, Sure, Wall’s, Colman’s, and Pot Noodle.      

Faced with the challenge of climate change and the desire for human development, we want to move towards a world where everyone can live well and within the natural limits of the planet. That’s why our purpose is ‘to make sustainable living commonplace’.   

What do we look for? - Communications Placement

A proactive individual who is happy to take initiative and roll their sleeves up! Creative, detail-orientated, energetic and a strong team player.

With a strong performance culture, challenging goals and continuous feedback, we will help you in achieving 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.

No specific subject degree is required but studying for a degree in Journalism, Broadcasting, Digital Media, Public Relations or Corporate and Crisis Communications would be beneficial.

The role: Communication & Corporate Affairs IP  

A placement in the Communications & Corporate Affairs Function puts you at the heart of building trust and unlocking growth by positioning Unilever as a high performing, global leader in sustainable business.

The Communications & Corporate Affairs function is a specialist global team which spans Unilever’s five Business Groups, the corporate centre, and our Markets.

The work we do is organised around three strategic objectives:

1. Shape and protect our reputation as a high performing sustainable business globally.
2. Deliver growth and savings through corporate affairs and policy advocacy.
3. Embed our strategy, organisation and performance culture

From planning, delivering and communicating corporate strategy through to managing reputational issues and advocating for systemic change, everything we do drives towards strengthening trust in our brands, our company and our people.

You’ll gain skills in campaigning, media relations, advocacy, partnerships, innovation, digital communications, research, content, writing and strategic issues management in a fast-paced, externally and/or internally facing environment, with a unique insight into agendas that cut across the whole business. 

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

• Proactive storytelling and thought leadership, driven through a consistent narrative.
• Effective management of threats to Unilever’s reputation.
• Landing the change programmes transformation.
• Inspiring belonging and driving One Unilever Culture.
• Managing the roll out of a global campaign to our employees.
• Unlocking and growing employee advocacy.
• Strategic policy interventions and commercialising the GAP.

Some of our positions/teams you could be allocated to include:

• Strategy, Corp Affairs & Issues IP
• Sustainability Comms, Annual Reporting & Insights IP
• Media Relations IP
• Content and Channels IP
• People Comms IP

Skills required - Communications Placement

• Ability to work well in a team and build good working relationships.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Thrives in a fast-paced environment and operates with flexibility.
• Team player who is willing to pitch in and help wherever necessary.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Taking initiative and being proactive in identifying and solving problems.
• Microsoft Office skills (Excel, Outlook, Word, PowerPoint).

Please note, at Unilever we have development programmes, the skills below are skills which would be good to have at the beginning however you will develop them over the course of the 12 months. 

Our application process involves - Communications Placement

Step 1: Online Application

Click this link, and complete the online application form and tell us about your motivation for choosing Unilever and your selected programme. It is a simple and easy process with the option of filling out your details using your LinkedIn profile.

Step 2: Digital Interview

If your online application is successful, you will be invited to complete a digital interview.

Step 3: Virtual Discovery Centre

You will be invited to spend a virtual day in the life with us, immersing yourself in business challenges and an Interview.

What Can Unilever offer YOU? - Communications Placement

• A competitive salary of £24,787.75
• End of placement bonus.
• Discounted staff shop.
• Paid time off holiday/sick pay.
• Clear diversity policy.
• 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.  

Diversity at Unilever is about championing inclusion, embracing differences, creating possibilities, and growing together for better business performance. To celebrate this, we have internal networks and communities created to raise awareness for a cause, which work to create change within the business. These networks include Proud, Empower, Enable and Unity and our communities include Thriving Parents, Carers and All Inclusion Club.  

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.    

What support will you receive? - Communications Placement

• 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 (UFLP’s) 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 do need any adjustments, please inform the Talent Acquisition team who will contact you to discuss the accessibility options available. 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.  

Please contact the Talent Acquisition team at [email protected].  

Location:  

Hybrid working with a minimum of 2 days required weekly at our London Blackfriars office.

Discovery Centre:

Our virtual Discovery Centres will be running from the week commencing the 13^th of January 2025.

Closing date:  

We will be closing applications on the 23^rd of December 2024 however, if we get enough applications for the business area before this, applications will close accordingly. We, therefore, advise you to apply as early as possible to avoid disappointment.  

If you have any questions about your application or if you require any reasonable adjustments to be made to complete any part of the application process, please contact the Future Careers Team. If you would like to discuss any mitigating circumstances before making an application, please also contact the team using the following contact details:  

Phone: 020 3650 2304 or e-mail: [email protected].   

Recruitment Fraud    

Cyber criminals 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 scan for signs of people setting up fake Unilever sites and act 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!