FORM 6-K
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
REPORT OF FOREIGN ISSUER
Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the month of JUNE, 2006
UNILEVER PLC
(Translation of registrant's name into English)
UNILEVER HOUSE, BLACKFRIARS, LONDON, ENGLAND
(Address of principal executive offices)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports
under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
Form 20-F..X.. Form 40-F.....
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper
as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1):_____
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper
as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7):_____
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information
contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the
Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Yes ..... No .X..
If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant
in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82- _______
Exhibit 99 attached hereto is incorporated herein by reference.
Signatures
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
UNILEVER PLC
/S/ S G WILLIAMS
By S G WILLIAMS
SECRETARY
Date: JUNE 06, 2006
EXHIBIT INDEX
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EXHIBIT NUMBER EXHIBIT DESCRIPTION
99 Notice to London Stock Exchange dated
06 June 2006, HR Contract With Accenture
Exhibit 99
UNILEVER AWARDS HR OUTSOURCING CONTRACT
TO ACCENTURE
Unilever today announced that it has awarded its global Human Resources
outsourcing contract to Accenture. This follows the announcement in April of an
outsourcing contract to Accenture for its European IT operation, and in December
last year for its European financial transactional services to IBM.
The Human Resources contract sees Unilever outsourcing the transactional and
administrative parts of the function globally. The contract covers
transactional, administrative and HR IT systems support for activities such as
recruitment and resourcing, reward, training, and performance management.
The outsourcing programme is part of the company's One Unilever initiatives to
increase leverage of its scale, improve its marketplace competitiveness, deliver
functional excellence, and create a more competitive cost-structure allowing it
to focus on its consumers and customers.
Unilever intends to minimise the impact on people by transferring staff to
Accenture, early retirement, exploring alternative roles, natural attrition and
through voluntary programmes.
Unilever has a great deal of experience of managing change and, as well as
dealing with people issues sensitively and professionally, it is committed to
working closely with the relevant employee representatives and works councils.
Sandy Ogg, Unilever's chief HR officer, said: "This global outsourcing deal
represents a major strategic choice for Unilever. We believe that it is best for
our business if we concentrate on our core competencies and transfer what is our
back office and make it into someone else's front office. We can also leverage
Accenture's capabilities and expertise. This deal allows us to create a simpler,
more agile Global HR function to better support Unilever's growth agenda."
John Zealley, managing partner of Accenture's European Consumer Goods & Services
Practice, said: "This agreement should help support Unilever as it strives to
transform its business.
"By outsourcing functions such as human resources to Accenture, Unilever should
benefit from increased efficiencies, decreased costs and greater global
standardization."
-ends-
June 6 2006
About Unilever -
Unilever's mission is to add vitality to life. We meet everyday needs for
nutrition, hygiene and personal care with brands that help people feel good,
look good and get more out of life.
Unilever is one of the world's leading suppliers of fast moving consumer goods
with strong local roots in more than 100 countries across the globe. Its
portfolio includes some of the world's best known and most loved brands
including twelve EUR1 billion brands and global leadership in many categories in
which the company operates. The portfolio features brand icons such as: Knorr,
Hellmann's, Flora, Bertolli, Dove, Lux, Pond's, Lynx, Sunsilk, Persil, Cif and
Domestos.
Unilever has around 206,000 employees in approaching 100 countries and generated
annual sales of EUR40 billion in 2005. For more information about Unilever and
its brands, please visit www.unilever.com.
About Accenture -
Accenture is a global management consulting, technology services and outsourcing
company. Committed to delivering innovation, Accenture collaborates with its
clients to help them become high-performance businesses and governments.
With deep industry and business process expertise, broad global resources and a
proven track record, Accenture can mobilize the right people, skills and
technologies to help clients improve their performance. With more than 129,000
people in 48 countries, the company generated net revenues of US$15.55 billion
for the fiscal year ended Aug. 31, 2005. Its home page is www.accenture.com.
Contacts
Tim Johns
VP Global Media Relations
Unilever PLC
+44 20 7822 6805
tim.johns@unilever.com
Benedict Payne
Global Media Relations
Accenture
+44 20 7844 0440
benedict.j.payne@accenture.com
SAFE HARBOUR STATEMENT: This announcement may contain forward-looking
statements, including 'forward-looking statements' within the meaning of the
United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as
'expects', 'anticipates', 'intends' or the negative of these terms and other
similar expressions of future performance or results and their negatives are
intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking
statements are based upon current expectations and assumptions regarding
anticipated developments and other factors affecting the Group. They are not
historical facts, nor are they guarantees of future performance. Because these
forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, there are important
factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those
expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements, including, among
others, competitive pricing and activities, consumption levels, costs, the
ability to maintain and manage key customer relationships and supply chain
sources, currency values, interest rates, the ability to integrate acquisitions
and complete planned divestitures, physical risks, environmental risks, the
ability to manage regulatory, tax and legal matters and resolve pending matters
within current estimates, legislative, fiscal and regulatory developments,
political, economic and social conditions in the geographic markets where the
Group operates and new or changed priorities of the Boards. Further details of
potential risks and uncertainties affecting the Group are described in the
Group's filings with the London Stock Exchange, Euronext Amsterdam and the US
Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Annual Report & Accounts on
Form 20-F. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this
announcement. Except as required by any applicable law or regulation, the Group
expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any
updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to
reflect any change in the Group's expectations with regard thereto or any change
in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.