Hi everyone, I’m Ben – a Politics and International Relations student currently undertaking my industrial placement with Unilever.
Having completed the first month and a half of my placement, I have been able to reflect on a period of remarkable new experiences from both a personal and professional standpoint. You can see the view from my new office on the right!
This began with a big transition: moving to London after a busy few weeks away on an annual deployment exercise with my University Officer Training Corps.
Having grown up in rural Herefordshire and studied in the beautiful city of Bath, London marks two firsts for me – my first corporate 9–5 and my first time living in a global capital. It’s been a big change, but one I’ve embraced fully. London’s atmosphere and energy is unmatched, and the city has a unique charm that I’ve really come to enjoy.
I arrived with just one free day before starting, which I spent doing a bucket-list run across the city – ticking off sights from Buckingham Palace to the Tower of London and ending up with a very satisfying Strava map!
Day one at Unilever was a mix of excitement and nerves. The onboarding process – from offer to induction – was seamless. You can see below my flatmates and I about to head in! The two-day induction event in Kingston brought together placement students from across the country, and the blend of icebreakers, activities, and training sessions made for a fun and informative start. It was also great socially, with events like mini-golf and darts on the first 
evening helping everyone settle in.
My first real day in the office followed, and it didn’t disappoint. Unilever’s Blackfriars HQ is nothing short of spectacular, with sweeping views of London landmarks such as St Paul’s Cathedral, Tower Bridge, and The Shard. The historic exterior contrasts beautifully with the modern interior – and yes, the free ice cream is a definite bonus! While flexible working is an option, I’ve chosen to come in everyday to soak up the energy and enjoy the commute through central London.
I’ve thoroughly enjoyed getting to know my team and settling into my role. I work in OLAF (yes, like the snowman!) – our Operations, Legal and Finance communications team. It’s a small but passionate team, and they’ve made me feel welcome from day one. The learning curve has been steep, but the “learn by doing” culture means I’ve already been trusted with real, meaningful work.
From refining my writing skills to eventually managing my own projects, I’ve set myself clear goals. One major lesson so far? The importance of IT skills. Whatever your placement, get comfortable with the tools and systems early – it makes a huge difference.
It was great to round off my first month with a brilliant 3-day trip to Port Sunlight, the historical home of Unilever, for our half-year team meeting. A great agenda of devising strategy and team bonding was topped off by an incredibly exciting tour of the Personal Care factory and the Research and Development facilities!
The historical village of Port Sunlight, built by Lord Lever for factory workers in the late 19th century, was also a great privilege to see. From picturesque homes to high-speed packaging lines, this trip is one I’ll always remember!
It’s been a fantastic start, and I’m excited to keep learning, growing, and sharing the journey ahead!
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