Unilever sets up Liverpool R&D hub

The company’s Elida Beauty business has signed a 10-year lease for more than 5,500 sq ft at Liverpool Science Park to create a product development facility.

Elida Beauty was created by Unilever in 2021 and is focused on personal care products. Within the 22-brand-strong Elida Beauty portfolio sits Toni&Guy, TIGI, and Timotei.

The new product development hub within Knowledge Quarter Liverpool will be the home to Elida Beauty’s R&D, marketing, sales and supply chain teams. The hub will have a salon space as well as workspaces.

“We are really proud to be maintaining our presence in the Liverpool City Region with our global product development hub,” said Elida Beauty chief R&D officer Andrew Wyrko.

“Through our connections with Liverpool Science Park and the universities, we will be able to identify and bring to life great new innovations – working in partnership with some of the brightest minds in the country,” Wyrko continued.

“The location puts us at the heart of a vibrant and diverse area which truly reflects the people that use our brands, allowing us to quickly co-develop superior products that solve real consumer needs and provide great value for money.”

CGI showing what Elida Beauty’s new office will look like. Credit: via Sciontec

Elida Beauty is leasing the space in the Knowledge Quarter from Sciontec, a company that is jointly owned by Liverpool John Moores University, the University of Liverpool, Bruntwood SciTech, and Liverpool City Council.

Colin Sinclair, chief executive of Sciontec, welcomed the new tenant.

“Elida Beauty is another fantastic addition to the rapidly growing KQ Liverpool innovation ecosystem, powering research and creating highly skilled jobs for the people of Liverpool – proving that investing in health, wellbeing, science and technology is vital to growing the UK economy,” he said.

CBRE was one of the agents involved in the deal.

CBRE director Andrew Byrne said: “Elida Beauty identified Liverpool city centre as the location for its new R&D facility and Sciontec’s recent investment and subsequent enhancements made within LSP were key to the decision-making process to locate there.

“Elida Beauty’s new space will provide a great base to develop its offer and I look forward to seeing its growth at LSP in the future.”

• Hear from Sciontec’s Colin Sinclair at Place North West’s Merseyside Development Update.