Inside the beating heart of Volvo CE in Eskilstuna

As the birthplace of the Volvo CE brand, the company has always been a significant presence for locals like Anna Ehn. Which is why she was eager to join the company after completing her master’s degree. Now a Buyer in the Purchasing team, Anna reflects on her journey:

Having grown up in Eskilstuna, I’ve always been aware of Volvo CE and its attractiveness as an employer and have known lots of people who worked there. I had a summer job in the Sales team but wanted to move into purchasing so when I saw a buyer role advertised, I was keen to apply. I like that there is always the opportunity for self-development.”

As home to the global headquarters, Eskilstuna attracts employees from around the world making it a diverse and creative place to be. Juha Huhmarniemi, who also works in Purchasing, says: “We are the biggest site globally, so there is a great feeling of collaboration, with the whole value chain represented in one place. I have been here for 25 years and have seen it grow into a diverse organization. In our Purchasing department alone, we have something like 13 different nationalities. This creates an open forum, where everyone brings something different to the table and we learn from each other.”

For Alva Li, moving from China to Sweden for an exciting new role as Business Office Lead in the Technology team was not only a great opportunity for her, but also for her family. She says: “Coming from a small town in China and growing up in a traditional family, not many people around me have had the opportunity to live and work abroad. I wanted to create these kinds of experiences and opportunities for me and my son. As the headquarters of Volvo CE, I’ve always been keen to work in Eskilstuna, but it’s not just about my career; my husband and son are also embracing this positive experience.”

Despite its global reach, Eskilstuna maintains a strong sense of community, something Johanna Huggare really values. Now part of the Technology team, Johanna returned to Eskilstuna after spending four years in other roles within the Volvo Group. She describes her experience: “Returning to Volvo CE and to Eskilstuna feels like coming home. It’s a real community.”

It’s also a supportive and encouraging environment when undergoing a change or move within the company, as Krzysztof Biadun discovered. After a long and successful career as a Mechanical Designer, Krzysztof was seeking a new challenge and the chance to explore an interest in software engineering. With the support of his manager and colleagues, he was able to work within the Software Engineering team while still working in his existing role, an experience that confirmed his desire to make the transition.

“I was able to dip my toes in the water to see if it was the right fit for me – with the full support of my manager from both departments,” Krzysztof, who is currently acting leader in his new department, explains.

Eskilstuna may seem like a typical Swedish town, but its community really stands out for its warm welcome, whether you speak Swedish fluently or not. That’s been Eva Kraske’s experience. Originally from France, Eva’s career journey with Volvo CE has taken her to Brussels and Shippensburg in the USA before she settled in Eskilstuna.

She shares: “I moved to Eskilstuna and while I could speak basic Swedish, I hadn’t used it at work too much. Now as a Production Manager, many of my team and colleagues are Swedish, so today, I speak it every day. I’ve improved a lot. I’m very fortunate as everyone has been incredibly supportive and patient.” 

Summing up what it’s like to live and work in Eskilstuna, Therese Öberg, who works in Purchasing says: “What I like most about Eskilstuna is that we spend a lot of time outdoors – and really you have everything in one place. You can go hiking, mountain biking or play golf here, or travel easily into Stockholm for a city break or into the mountains for skiing.”

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