UK Prime Minister Lauds Unilever

Sometimes, heads of state needn't travel far afield to view innovation. Sometimes, it's right in their own back yard. Prime Minister David Cameron and Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne today visited the Unilever hub in Port Sunlight to see first-hand how investments in innovation, manufacturing and information technology are creating an unparalleled global hub in the heart of the Northwest of England. Unilever is investing £200 million into the century-old site, which still remain the heart of its R&D program.

The investment program reinforces the sustainable growth strategy of the company in the UK and abroad and sees the opening of a new global IT center, the creation of a new personal care factory and several new R&D facilities and initiatives involving key partners, institutes and the UK Government. The investment has resulted in around one third of the company’s 7,500 strong UK workforce now being located at Port Sunlight, the historic home of Unilever.

The Prime Minister and Chancellor were escorted by Unilever UK representatives on a tour of the new state-of-the-art factory due to open later this year as the new home for the Tresemmé and Radox brands. They also met with Unilever apprentices before taking part in an employee question and answer session in the recently completed IT center which they formally opened today.

“Backing business to create jobs and build a more resilient economy is a key part of our long-term economic plan,” said Cameron. “Unilever's decision to invest £200 million into their Port Sunlight hub secures jobs for the future and is fantastic news for the region and a vote of confidence in the UK.”

Unilever UK and Ireland Executive Chairman Graeme Pitkethly added: “Unilever’s presence in Port Sunlight goes back over 125 years—it is the historic home of our company which today operates in more than 190 countries. With everyday products and much-loved brands produced here and found in nine out of ten British households, our £200 million investment into Unilever Port Sunlight will provide a platform for growth from which our business in the UK and across the globe can benefit for years to come.”

“We are delighted to have had the opportunity to show the Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Exchequer the investments made and to demonstrate Port Sunlight’s continued strategic importance as we look to the future and continue to build on the Lever legacy.”

A key element to the investment program is the development of new science and technologies. In order to accelerate this, a range of partnerships and initiatives have been established, examples of which include the Materials Innovation Factory, the Advanced Manufacturing Center and Materials Institute. These are in tandem with key strategic partnerships with The University of Liverpool, Manchester University and Daresbury Institute, home to one of the world’s most powerful computers.