RB reveals major Hull job boost thanks to investment
AROUND 100 new jobs will be created in Hull thanks to Reckitt Benckiser’s (RB’s) multi-million pound investment.
The global consumer health and hygiene company is investing £100m in a brand new 13,000 sq ft Centre for Scientific Excellence.
The R&D facility – the largest single investment in the company’s history – will safeguard 1,200 jobs and create another 80 to 100 over the next three years, ranging from graduate roles to more highly skilled positions. Building work is expected to start in 2016, with the site operational by 2018.
One of six major R&D facilities worldwide, the new centre, in Dansom Road, will become the global technical innovation hub for products such as Nurofen and Strepsils and will house laboratories and testing chambers.
Senior vice president for global R&D, Sharon James, said the company looked at a number of sites across the globe before choosing Hull.
“We looked at a whole range of criteria at the beginning of the process, from the availability of talent, the environment for intellectual property and the breadth and depth of skills.
“We have a 200 year history in Hull and we’ve got such strength and depth of health capability here.”
RB already has an 800-strong team of R&D people based in Hull.
“We want to make this centre a magnet of talent, with innovation and technology providing fantastic opportunities,” she added.
James said that RB’s history in health and wellness at its Hull site has expanded quickly and in order to continue its growth and meet demand, the investment was necessary. She added that currently the seventh largest player in the healthcare consumer world, RB wants to climb up the ladder and is confident the investment will help it move up the rankings.
Sandra Van Roon, who is responsible for overall delivery of the new site, said: “This is a major investment for the business and for a number of people who have been working on it. Three years ago we identified that we needed to make a number of key decisions and this is where we are today.”
RB says it will use a mixture of local and global companies to work with when the development works kick off and James added that RB is always looking to collaborate with technology companies, suppliers, and academics for example, and these partnerships will continue as it continues to evolve its Hull-based business.
RB has operations in more than 60 countries, with headquarters in the UK, Singapore, Dubai and Amsterdam, and sales in almost 200 countries. The company employs approximately 37,000 people worldwide.
Its health, hygiene and home portfolio is led by 19 global brands including Nurofen, Strepsils, Gaviscon, Durex, Scholl, Dettol, Veet, Finish, Vanish and Air Wick.
