Unilever: A Lasting Partnership

The Brief

A Long-Standing Partnership Built on Trust, Build Quality, Stringent H&S and Innovation. Ben Johnson Interiors has partnered with Unilever for more than 12 years, supporting a highly specialised mixed-use R&D facility with some of the strictest health and safety requirements in the industry.

Operating 24/7, the site demands precise coordination of work hours, deliveries and material handling—alongside stringent confidentiality protocols. Every member of our team signs non-disclosure agreements, protecting Unilever’s intellectual property and ensuring full discretion at all times.

Sector: Life Sciences, Offices
Location: Leeds
Date: Since 2002
Size: Upto 30,000sqft
Duration: Phased

The Solution

Leading Workplace Design

When we delivered the original £3m, 30,000sqft office refurbishment over a decade ago, the space broke new ground. Designed around activity-based working long before it became mainstream, it offered staff unprecedented flexibility—mixing fixed and hot desks, lockers allocated by work zone, a variety of meeting and focus spaces and areas designed specifically for collaboration and learning.

This project proved that forward-thinking design not only enhances culture but also extends the lifespan of a workplace. Because the space was designed intelligently from the start, it continues to evolve without the need for disruptive major overhauls.

R&D Mezzanine Space

Following significant investment in the office areas, a clear need emerged to extend similar improvements into the manufacturing space. Ben Johnson Interiors was appointed to design and deliver a mezzanine level, creating a dedicated R&D office within the manufacturing area. The project included new mechanical and electrical (M&E) services, a full interior fit-out, and bespoke furniture solutions.

This development has improved visibility across teams, strengthened communication, and fostered closer collaboration between R&D and manufacturing — creating a more integrated and efficient working environment.

Production Welfare

Alongside the mezzanine development, we delivered upgrades to the production welfare facilities, transforming essential break and meeting spaces used throughout operational shifts.

Our focus was to create modern, comfortable, and functional environments that support employee wellbeing. The refreshed welfare areas provide welcoming spaces for teams to rest, meet, and recharge during busy production schedules.

In keeping with the wider refurbishment strategy, we also incorporated dedicated brand display areas to showcase and celebrate Unilever products, fostering pride, engagement, and a stronger connection to the brands manufactured on site.

High-Spec R&D Laboratories

Ben Johnson Interiors delivered 10,000 sq ft of high-spec R&D laboratories, purpose-built to support specialist product testing within the live manufacturing environment. Working closely with Unilever’s R&D team, we created a technically robust solution balancing precision, safety, and operational efficiency, including complex M&E infrastructure, defined workflow routes, integrated emergency systems, and compliant exit signage.

Durable finishes and bespoke laboratory furniture were specified to meet intensive use and precision testing requirements. The result is a safe, compliant, and future-ready testing environment that supports innovation while integrating seamlessly with the wider facility.

Customer Experience Centre

As part of the wider programme, we delivered a 10,000sqft Customer Experience Centre designed to provide first-hand product testing opportunities within a purpose-built, controlled environment.

The facility was carefully planned to create a professional and welcoming journey for visitors, incorporating a dedicated reception area, fully equipped changing rooms and welfare facilities, and specialist testing suites with integrated viewing windows to enable real-time observation.

By creating a space that seamlessly connects controlled product trials with live feedback, we have helped bridge the gap between R&D and real-world user experience — providing valuable insights that directly inform ongoing product development.

Enhancing Core Spaces Across the Entire Site

Ben Johnson Interiors delivered upgrades across all building cores, including staircases, corridors, washrooms, and changing facilities serving both office and manufacturing areas. Each space was refurbished to improve durability, functionality, and overall user experience, ensuring consistent quality throughout the facility.

Alongside these enhancements, we completed a comprehensive reception refresh, delivering a modernised front-of-house environment while working within the stringent health and safety controls of the live Unilever site. Careful planning and phased delivery ensured minimal disruption to daily operations and maintained site safety and business continuity.

External Works

Ben Johnson Interiors extended the programme beyond the building interiors to enhance the site’s external presence and functionality. A key element was the installation of a new rotating glass entrance to the R&D reception, creating a welcoming, high-quality arrival experience that reinforced the modern, innovative character of the facility.

We also delivered complementary external improvements, including upgraded landscaping, clearly defined pedestrian routes, and enhanced signage — all carefully designed to integrate with the building’s architecture, improve accessibility, and support a safe, intuitive flow for employees and visitors. These works ensured the first impression of the site reflected the quality, innovation, and collaborative ethos of the internal refurbishment programme.

Evolving With the Modern Workplace

As part of Unilever’s commitment to a modern, flexible workplace, we delivered enhancements driven by the shift to hybrid working to improve functionality, collaboration, and wellbeing across the office. Our interventions included:

The integration of smarter workplace technology, including advanced room-booking systems
The creation of dedicated wellbeing rooms and private call spaces to support focused work and hybrid meetings
The transformation of traditional desking and breakout areas into a flexible, multifunctional central “townhall” space that adapts to changing team needs

The Final Project

Ben Johnson Interiors originally delivered a pioneering 30,000 sq ft office refurbishment for Unilever, designed around activity-based working to provide flexibility, collaborative spaces, and a mix of fixed and hot-desking areas.

We have continued to support Unilever in evolving the space to meet changing workplace trends, showing that well-considered design can adapt with the business and reduce the need for major refurbishments. The result is a dynamic, future-ready workspace that fosters collaboration, engagement, and productivity across all teams.

“Over more than a decade on site, Ben Johnson Interiors has consistently delivered multiple high-quality projects for Unilever, evolving the workplaces to meet changing needs while maintaining seamless operations.”

Representative
Marketing | Unilever