At a Glance
- Tasks: Gain hands-on experience in supply chain management and tackle real-world challenges.
- Company: Join Unilever, a leading FMCG company with iconic brands.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, bonus, gym memberships, and generous holiday allowance.
- Other info: Enjoy mentorship, career growth opportunities, and a supportive team culture.
- Why this job: Make a meaningful impact while developing your skills in a dynamic environment.
- Qualifications: STEM students preferred; passion for supply chain is key.
The predicted salary is between 27898 - 27898 £ per year.
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.
What do we look for? For our Technical roles, we are looking for students studying a STEM discipline. For our Non-Technical roles, we are open to students from any background who have an appetite for Supply Chain. 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. 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.
Our Supply Chain Management Industrial Placements are a chance to showcase your ambition, thinking, and skills, with total support from a line manager and a buddy. Some of our positions you could be allocated to include:
- Supply Chain Technical Process Engineer at our Leeds or Port Sunlight factories, working to eliminate defects, losses, and waste, and increase the stability of our production lines.
- Process Engineering role in a fast-paced factory, supporting initiatives including LPG tank inspections, Faberge Silverson upgrades, Raw Material Tote Stations as well as support process changes linked to the launch of All Over Body Spray and Neutral Roll-On. This position offers a dynamic opportunity to influence operational efficiency, enhance safety standards, and support innovation.
- Contribute to projects focused on improving operational efficiency, sustainability, and technology adoption. Responsibilities may include data collection and analysis, process improvement support, and assisting in the development of digital tools and resources. This role offers exposure to real-world challenges, cross-functional collaboration, and innovation.
Please note that Technical roles are available for students studying STEM disciplines only.
What could your day-to-day role include (subjective to your role)? Supply Chain is Unilever’s biggest function so there is a huge range of opportunities you could take on! Some of these include:
- Helping launch the newest Beauty and Personal Care innovation.
- Helping to deliver sustainable engineering projects at one of our UK factories.
- Working in our UK/head office, ensuring our products arrive on time and in full at our customers!
Skills required include:
- Data analytics & data-driven decision making
- Strong problem-solving ability
- Proactivity
- Effective communication & business partnering
- Stakeholder management
- Microsoft Office skills (Excel, Outlook, Word, PowerPoint)
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: Technical – You will be based in Port Sunlight or Leeds factories with factory shift patterns of 5 days a week.
- 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:
- 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. *Please note, we do not use AI as a screening tool in our recruitment process therefore, your digital interview submission will be reviewed by a real person*
- 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! 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.
Unilever Industrial Placement Programme - Supply Chain - Technical UK in Leeds employer: targetjobs UK
Bloomberg is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment in London where you can develop your skills in analytics and sales while providing unparalleled customer support to clients across the globe. With a strong emphasis on employee growth, our comprehensive training program equips you with the knowledge needed to excel in the financial markets, while opportunities for career advancement abound within the company. Join us to be part of a culture that values innovation, collaboration, and a commitment to delivering outstanding service.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Unilever Industrial Placement Programme - Supply Chain - Technical UK in Leeds
✨Get Involved in Supply Chain Events
Check out local and regional supply chain events or logistics fairs in your area. These gatherings are gold mines for networking and can help you meet professionals from companies like targetjobs UK who are looking for fresh talent for placements.
✨Join Supply Chain Student Groups
Many universities have student groups focused on supply chain and operations management. Joining these groups can give you access to exclusive job opportunities and workshops, plus you'll be rubbing shoulders with like-minded peers who can share leads or insights into placement openings at companies like targetjobs UK.
✨Show Off Your Analytical Skills
In supply chain operations, problem-solving and analytical skills are key. On your profile or during interviews, showcase any relevant projects or coursework where you’ve improved processes or used data analysis. It shows you're not just a theory buff but ready to tackle real-world challenges.
✨Apply Directly with Us!
Don't forget that we at StudySmarter have a direct application portal where you can find exciting placements at companies like targetjobs UK. Get your application in early to stand out from the crowd, and don't be shy about reaching out for advice!
We think you need these skills to ace Unilever Industrial Placement Programme - Supply Chain - Technical UK in Leeds
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Analytical Skills:In the supply chain operations field, being able to analyse data is key. Highlight any experience you have with data analytics tools or software in your CV and cover letter. This could be from coursework or projects; we want to see how you can optimise processes and decision-making!
Demonstrate Your Team Player Spirit:Since supply chain operations are often collaborative, we recommend including examples in your application that showcase your ability to work well in a team. Whether it was a university project or a part-time job, mentioning your contributions to group successes can really make your application stand out.
Focus on Your Learning Potential:As this is a placement role, we’re looking for candidates eager to grow and learn. In your cover letter, express your enthusiasm for learning about supply chain management, any relevant coursework, and how you plan to apply this knowledge during your time with us at targetjobs UK.
Tailor Your CV and Cover Letter:Don’t treat your CV and cover letter as one-size-fits-all documents. Make sure to tailor them specifically to the Unilever Industrial Placement Programme - Supply Chain - Technical UK role at targetjobs UK. Use keywords from the job description and reflect on how your past experiences connect to the specific requirements of the position; this shows us you’ve done your homework!
How to prepare for a job interview at targetjobs UK
✨Know Your Supply Chain Basics
Brush up on key concepts like demand forecasting, inventory management, and logistics. In a placement interview for a supply chain role at targetjobs UK, they might quiz you on your understanding of these topics or ask you to give examples of how you've handled supply chain challenges in the past.
✨Show Off Your Analytical Skills
Be prepared to tackle some data analysis questions or case studies during the interview. Familiarise yourself with tools like Excel or supply chain software, as these could come up when discussing how to optimise operations. We want to see that you can think critically about data and use it to inform decisions.
✨Share Your Experiences
Even as a placement candidate, it's important to highlight any relevant projects, coursework, or work experience. Talk about specific instances where you successfully contributed to a team project, or learned something about supply chains through your studies—this shows your motivation and eagerness to learn on the job.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect situational questions that test your problem-solving skills related to supply chain operations. They might ask how you would handle a sudden stock shortage or a delayed shipment. Think about your decision-making process and how you can showcase your ability to tackle real-world challenges, as this is what the placement is all about!
