Bus and lorry manufacturer Volvo plans to switch from using local ‘mom and pop’ recruitment agencies to a more centralised approach using national and global vendors.

Lisa Glebus, process manager, talent & training for Volvo in the US, told the Kenexa EuroSummit 2010 in London last week that she intended to move the US business away from the current situation. At the moment, she said each of Volvo’s US businesses “operated locally” and “mom & pop” agencies “charged what they wanted”.

Glebus said she wanted to take advantage of “the preferential rates” offered by Adecco and Manpower among others.

Glebus outlined a number of other advantages of a centralised approach:

- ability to see which are the best vendors and the under performing - this also helps with contract renegotiations

- foster healthy competition between vendors so you get the best candidate

- elimination of paperwork

Glebus said that she wanted to reduce the proportion of Volvo’s contingent workforce its current level of 30% to 15% of its total staff.