Your Future Employer
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.
Unilever’s purpose is to create a brighter future with you and for you and that journey starts in Research & Development (R&D).
In R&D, you’ll explore new ways our products can improve people’s lives and benefit the planet. You’ll learn what consumers want and help turn ideas into real innovations. As an R&D apprentice, you’ll follow a structured programme that lets you apply your scientific knowledge in practical, hands‑on work while studying for your degree.
As a Packaging Research & Development Apprentice, you’ll join a team leading the way in creating sustainable packaging and products. You’ll rotate across different functions, building skills in Packaging Excellence, Design, Sustainability and Innovation project delivery, all while studying for a Packaging BSc from Sheffield Hallam University. The course gives you a solid understanding of how the packaging industry works today, how the supply chain fits together, and how to apply new ideas to tackle key industry challenges.
You’ll explore the latest trends shaping the future of packaging, including sustainability and alternative materials, and gain a deep understanding of areas such as raw material conversion, barrier properties, marketing and presentation. By the end of the programme, you’ll have developed the modern, in‑demand skills needed to help move the packaging and retail industries forward.
What do we look for?
We are looking for enthusiastic, creative & curious individuals who want to be part of changing the future of packaging. Successful candidates will need to work both independently and as part of a team and feel comfortable with embracing new technology to continuously improve how we work. You will need to be adaptable to take on diverse aspects of the packaging role and participate constructively to solving problems.
What could your day-to-day-role look like?
As a packaging apprentice you will have the opportunity of working in different stages of the packaging development process. You could be part of a creative session to explore new packaging concepts or working to bring new ideas to life through prototyping and obtaining physical samples. You could be working to help ensure that new packaging solutions are fit for purpose by validating them in out testing laboratory or running trials through our simulated manufacturing facility. Once you have the final packaging agreed you will be working with the innovation teams to bring them to market, collaborating with packaging suppliers and our manufacturing sites to ensure that we can produce millions of them to the desired quality, sustainability profile and cost that our consumers desire.
What support do we offer?
Throughout your apprenticeship you will work closely with a work-based mentor who will support you through your apprenticeship journey. As well as helping to organise your work-based activities, they will take an active part in supporting your university programme, holding regular review sessions with the university learning mentor to ensure that your work-based programme complements the University objectives.
What Can Unilever offer YOU?
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A Competitive Salary of £25,000
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A pension Scheme
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A Benefits Envelope which has a notional value of 25% of your pensionable earnings. Use it to save for your pension, get extra taxable pay or both.
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A discounted staff shop.
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Subsidised Gym Memberships - availability varies by site.
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Shares
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25 days of holiday allowance
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Opportunity to work directly with our renowned and exciting brands in a flexible and hybrid working environment.
- 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.