150 million times a day somebody, somewhere chooses a Unilever brand and, in the UK, 99 per cent of the population buy our products, ranging from Persil, Lynx and Magnum to Dove, PG tips and Flora.
Since 1888 when William Hesketh Lever - later to become Lord Leverhulme - first built the world's largest soapworks and a village to house his employees at Port Sunlight, Wirral has remained a key location for Unilever's operations.
Today our Port Sunlight base is home to the largest of the company's European manufacturing sites, producing well-known laundry and homecare products including Persil, Surf, Comfort, Domestos and Cif which are distributed across the UK and the continent. In addition, several global and European teams are located on site.
Adjacent to our manufacturing site is one of Unilever's six global research and development (R&D) centres, driving innovation in our range of hair care, deodorants, oral, household and laundry brands. In Port Sunlight alone, we have 100 years of expertise in delivering consumer products, both to the UK and around the world.
Throughout the century, Port Sunlight has played a significant part in the development of many groundbreaking technologies in the fast moving consumer goods industry, such as 2-in-1 shampoo-and-conditioner and concentrated washing liquid, effective at cooler temperatures.
Due to its pioneering work, Port Sunlight attracts a highly skilled and diverse local workforce, enriched by talent from all over the world. Local amenities including excellent schooling and universities make the Wirral an attractive area in which to pursue a career.
Maintaining a strong connection with the local area, Unilever works closely with the University of Liverpool on collaborative projects, as Mike Parkington, the Director of Laboratory at Port Sunlight R&D explains:
"Recently, a joint bid between Unilever Port Sunlight R&D, the University of Liverpool and AB Sugar was awarded a grant for £2.8million from the UK Government to develop a unique bio refinery. Our bid was well supported by Wirral Council and it is great news for the three parties, as well as Wirral and the wider Liverpool City Region."
Dr Mike Parkington, Director of Laboratory
Shows off the Chemical Landmark blue plaque from The Royal Society of Chemistry awarded to Port Sunlight R&D in recognition of the site’s scientific contribution to the fast-moving consumer goods industry over the last 100 years.