The British leaders visited the Port Sunlight facility to see how the Anglo-Dutch firm’s £200 million (€257m) investment programme focusing on innovation, manufacturing and information technology are creating a global hub in the heart of the North West.
Prime Minister David Cameron says that the programme fits in with the government’s long-term economic plan as it helps to create jobs and build a more resilient economy.
“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,” he states.
Plan
As part of the programme, Unilever is opening a new global IT centre, 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.
Unilever UK and Ireland Executive Chairman, Graeme Pitkethly, explains that the £200 million investment into Unilever Port Sunlight will provide a platform for growth from which the company’s business in the UK and across the globe can benefit in the future.
“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,” he says.
Investment programme
A key element to the investment programme 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 Centre and Materials Institute.
These are in tandem with key strategic partnerships with The University of Liverpool, Manchester University and Daresbury Institute.