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Recruitment Companies in Plymouth: 56 Active Firms (2026)
Recruitment and staffing companies in Plymouth place permanent, temporary and contract workers with employers across the city region.
Buying centres tend to sit with HR managers, operations directors and finance teams rather than a single technology buyer. Plymouth agencies usually sell into local SMEs, care and education providers, engineering employers and professional-services firms across the wider South West, with public-sector-adjacent work appearing where framework or compliance requirements matter. Engagements are typically branch-led: permanent contingency fees, rolling temporary-worker payroll, contract timesheets and repeat hiring campaigns. The operational stack is therefore less about speculative candidate search alone and more about candidate records, right-to-work checks, assignment terms, payroll cut-offs and account management with hirers.
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Plymouth has 56 actively trading recruitment and staffing firms in this list, a small city-region cohort rather than a national agency base. Reported employment totals 755 people, so the local footprint is concentrated in firms with branch teams, payroll administration and account management capacity rather than very large head offices. Recent formation is visible: 19 firms were incorporated since 2022. None report turnover above £5M, which points to a market made up mainly of owner-managed agencies and specialist local operators rather than high-revenue national platforms headquartered in the city.
Employment-agency rules shape the operating model more than sector licensing for most Plymouth recruiters. The Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses Regulations frame everyday duties: agencies may not charge work-seekers for work-finding services, withhold wages that are due, or begin work-finding without key information and written terms in place. Temporary-worker supply adds a cash-flow obligation, because the employment business remains responsible for paying workers for hours worked even where the hirer has not paid or authorised a timesheet. Labour supply into agriculture, horticulture, shellfish gathering and related processing or packaging can bring gangmaster licensing under the Fair Work Agency.
Plymouth’s cohort appears tilted toward small, service-led agencies, so change is likely to be incremental rather than abrupt. Margin pressure tends to come from the same places across local staffing markets: wage administration, late hirer payment, candidate availability and compliance work that cannot easily be passed on as fees. Specialist agencies serving regulated or shift-based employers may have defensible relationships, but they also carry more process burden. Consolidation would more plausibly come through branch acquisition, founder succession or back-office pooling than through venture-style scaling.
56
Active firms
2026
19
Recent incorporations
since 2022
0
Over £5M turnover
Key facts
33% of the cohort was incorporated since 2022 (19 firms), so a sizeable share is in its first few filing cycles.
The recruitment industry contributed £40.6 billion to the UK economy in 2025, accounting for 1.6% of UK GVA.
Temporary and contract placements accounted for 76.7% of UK recruitment GVA in 2025, and around 872,000 temporary or contract workers were on assignment on any given day in 2024.
Real GVA declined 5.3% in 2025, while recruitment activity is forecast to grow by 4.4% in 2026.
UK recruitment and staffing businesses are mainly governed by the Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses Regulations 2003 rather than by a single general operating licence.
Agencies and employment businesses cannot charge work-seekers for work-finding services, withhold payments or wages due, or begin work-finding before giving written terms and a key information document.
Top Plymouth Recruitment companies
TQR PLYMOUTH LIMITED
Trajectory
5y · 2022–NowFinancial sub-scores
Computed from 5 filingsProvides recruitment and staffing services for employers and job seekers, sourcing permanent and temporary staff across sectors including engineering, industrial and manufacturing, construction,…
Serves employers and jobseekers across Exeter, Plymouth and Taunton, with clients in commercial, catering and hospitality, engineering, events, industrial and manufacturing, professional services,…
Financial Health
DistressedDistressed · -14% CAGR over 4y
Location
MEDICO CARE LIMITED
Trajectory
5y · 2021–NowFinancial sub-scores
Computed from 5 filingsSupplies temporary healthcare staff to care homes and nursing homes through an agency service. Recruits and places care workers to cover shifts and staffing needs, providing vetted personnel for…
Serves care homes and nursing homes across Devon and Cornwall, targeting operators that use healthcare agencies for temporary staffing cover and shift support.
Financial Health
StrongStrong · Hiring · 11% CAGR over 4y
Location
ACORN HEALTHCARE (SW) LTD
Trajectory
3y · 2023–NowFinancial sub-scores
Computed from 3 filingsProvides recruitment and staffing services to the healthcare and social care sector, supplying temporary and permanent support workers, carers and other care staff to care providers.
Serves B2B care providers in Plymouth, Devon, South Hams and surrounding areas, including healthcare sector organisations that need temporary or permanent care and support staff.
Financial Health
DistressedDistressed · -24% CAGR over 2y
Location
DK RECRUITMENT LTD
Trajectory
5y · 2021–NowFinancial sub-scores
Computed from 5 filingsProvides recruitment and employment agency services, placing candidates in temporary, contract, part-time and permanent roles. Focuses on sectors including commercial, logistics and engineering,…
Serves employers and jobseekers across commercial, logistics and engineering sectors, including organisations hiring for temporary, contract, part-time and permanent roles such as quantity surveying…
Financial Health
HealthyHealthy · Hiring · 15% CAGR over 4y
Location
SOUNDWAVE RECRUITMENT SOLUTIONS LIMITED
Trajectory
5y · 2021–NowFinancial sub-scores
Computed from 5 filingsProvides recruitment services for the healthcare sector, supplying temporary and permanent staff such as healthcare assistants and support workers. Advertises vacancies, sources candidates, and…
Serves healthcare employers needing permanent or temporary staff, including care homes and specialist care services, mainly in Devon and the South West, with roles also advertised to healthcare…
Financial Health
StableStable · Hiring · 26% CAGR over 4y
Location
Eddystone Search Ltd
Trajectory
1y · 2025–NowFinancial Health
Insufficient historyInsufficient history
Location
SGM Outreach Services Ltd
Trajectory
2y · 2024–NowFinancial sub-scores
Computed from 2 filingsProvides healthcare staffing services, supplying support workers and healthcare assistants to care providers. Offers temporary staffing and personnel to support delivery of individualised care in…
Sells to healthcare providers and care settings needing agency support workers and healthcare assistants, particularly in Devon, Cornwall and surrounding areas. Targets organisations responsible for…
Financial Health
WeakWeak · Hiring · 270% CAGR over 1y
Location
Time4care Recruitment Ltd
Trajectory
1y · 2024–NowProvides healthcare recruitment and staffing services, supplying nurses, healthcare assistants and support workers to care providers. Recruits staff for roles in residential care, dementia care,…
Serves healthcare employers needing care and nursing staff, including dementia, residential, home care and learning disability services, and targets care assistants, support workers, RGNs and RMNs…
Financial Health
Insufficient historyInsufficient history
Location
Smeaton Healthcare Limited
Trajectory
5y · 2021–NowFinancial sub-scores
Computed from 5 filingsProvides healthcare staffing and employment agency services, recruiting and supplying nurses, carers and support workers to care homes, hospitals and private clients, and providing home care and…
Serves healthcare organisations needing staff and individuals or families seeking care services for loved ones, with an explicit focus on Devon and Cornwall.
Financial Health
HealthyHealthy · Hiring · 39% CAGR over 4y
Location
Alliance Search Ltd
Trajectory
5y · 2021–NowFinancial sub-scores
Computed from 5 filingsFinancial Health
StableStable · Hiring · 19% CAGR over 4y
Location
EMPLOYEE FINDER LIMITED
Trajectory
5y · 2020–NowFinancial sub-scores
Computed from 5 filingsFinancial Health
WeakWeak · 0% CAGR over 4y
Location
KELLAR FORMWORK LTD
Trajectory
2y · 2024–NowFinancial sub-scores
Computed from 2 filingsFinancial Health
StableStable
Location
SALLY LEGG LTD
Trajectory
3y · 2023–NowFinancial Health
Insufficient historyInsufficient history
Location
Maximum Hire Ltd
Trajectory
4y · 2022–NowFinancial sub-scores
Computed from 4 filingsFinancial Health
HealthyHealthy · 0% CAGR over 3y
Location
Armada Marine Limited
Trajectory
5y · 2020–NowFinancial sub-scores
Computed from 5 filingsFinancial Health
StrongStrong · Hiring · 7% CAGR over 4y
Location
THRIVE RECRUITMENT GROUP PLYMOUTH LTD
Trajectory
2y · 2024–NowFinancial sub-scores
Computed from 2 filingsFinancial Health
HealthyHealthy · 0% CAGR over 1y
Location
J&C Healthcare Ltd
Trajectory
4y · 2022–NowFinancial sub-scores
Computed from 4 filingsProvides nursing agency staffing and social care services, supplying registered nurses, healthcare assistants and support workers to NHS organisations, hospitals, nursing and residential homes. Also…
Serves NHS hospitals, private hospitals, care homes, nursing and residential homes, plus other UK health and social care organisations and individuals needing care or supported living support.
Financial Health
StrongStrong · 91% CAGR over 2y
Location
UTM CONSULTANTS LTD
Trajectory
5y · 2021–NowFinancial sub-scores
Computed from 5 filingsProvides specialist recruitment and personnel services for offshore technical sectors including hydrographic survey, ROV, AUV and underwater inspection. Connects freelance engineers and survey…
Serves global offshore services companies in hydrographic survey, ROV/AUV/USV, underwater inspection, renewable energy, telecoms, power and marine sectors, alongside freelance offshore technical…
Financial Health
StrongStrong · Growing, Hiring · 28% CAGR over 4y
Location
Ocean City Marine Surveyors Ltd
Trajectory
5y · 2021–NowFinancial sub-scores
Computed from 5 filingsFinancial Health
WeakWeak
Location
Turner-Carlisle Enterprises Ltd
Trajectory
3y · 2024–NowFinancial sub-scores
Computed from 3 filingsFinancial Health
WeakWeak
Location
MAY RECRUITMENT SPECIALISTS LTD
Trajectory
5y · 2021–NowFinancial sub-scores
Computed from 5 filingsFinancial Health
HealthyHealthy · -68% CAGR over 4y
Location
Anthony Marks Recruitment Limited
Trajectory
5y · 2021–NowFinancial sub-scores
Computed from 5 filingsFinancial Health
WeakWeak · 0% CAGR over 4y
Location
MV CONSULTING SW LTD
Trajectory
4y · 2022–NowFinancial sub-scores
Computed from 4 filingsFinancial Health
DistressedDistressed · -21% CAGR over 3y
Location
MC FX LTD
Trajectory
2y · 2023–NowFinancial sub-scores
Computed from 2 filingsFinancial Health
HealthyHealthy · 0% CAGR over 1y
Location
PIONEER SUBSEA LIMITED
Trajectory
4y · 2023–NowFinancial sub-scores
Computed from 4 filingsProvides specialist offshore recruitment for subsea and marine projects, supplying experienced personnel for ROV, AUV, survey and subsea tooling roles. Screens and matches technicians and engineers…
Serves B2B offshore and subsea companies needing specialist contract personnel, particularly for ROV, AUV, survey and tooling work. Also targets offshore professionals seeking roles in the ROV and…
Financial Health
StableStable · Hiring · 14% CAGR over 3y
Location
FRONTIER STAFFING LIMITED
Trajectory
1y · 2025–NowFinancial Health
Insufficient historyInsufficient history
Location
MLT PERSONNEL LTD
Trajectory
3y · 2022–NowFinancial sub-scores
Computed from 3 filingsFinancial Health
StableStable · 0% CAGR over 2y
Location
Ocean Recruitment Solutions Ltd
Trajectory
5y · 2020–NowFinancial sub-scores
Computed from 5 filingsFinancial Health
DistressedDistressed · 0% CAGR over 4y
Location
24/7 EVENT CREW LIMITED
Trajectory
5y · 2021–NowFinancial sub-scores
Computed from 5 filingsSupplies trained event crew and labour for live events, including corporate events, exhibitions, festivals and stadium productions. Provides crew chiefs, site coordinators, plant operators,…
Serves regional, national and international event promoters, production companies, corporate event and exhibition organisers, stadium productions and festival operators across the UK, Europe and…
Financial Health
StrongStrong · Growing, Hiring · 89% CAGR over 4y
Location
Trajectory
3y · 2020–NowFinancial sub-scores
Computed from 3 filingsProvides recruitment and executive search services for the financial services sector, placing professionals in areas such as actuarial, catastrophe modelling, finance, risk, compliance, underwriting,…
Serves financial services employers globally, including consultancies, insurers, investment houses and fintech teams, alongside actuarial, risk, compliance, finance, underwriting and IT professionals…
Financial Health
StableStable · 0% CAGR over 2y
Location
KENMAREHR LTD
Trajectory
5y · 2021–NowFinancial sub-scores
Computed from 5 filingsFinancial Health
HealthyHealthy · Hiring · 19% CAGR over 4y
Location
Valknut Automation Ltd
Trajectory
5y · 2021–NowFinancial sub-scores
Computed from 5 filingsProvides engineering and automation services including system design, production and implementation for industrial automation projects. Supplies specialist engineers and ICT professionals to support…
Sells to businesses needing automation project support and technical recruitment, including engineering, manufacturing and facilities management organisations. Serves employers hiring specialist…
Financial Health
StrongStrong · Hiring · 44% CAGR over 4y
Location
LLOYD BARNES COMMERCIAL RECRUITMENT LIMITED
Trajectory
3y · 2023–NowFinancial sub-scores
Computed from 3 filingsProvides recruitment services for accountancy, finance, human resources, operations, and marketing roles. Sources and places candidates in permanent and temporary positions for businesses, charities,…
Serves South West employers, including accountancy practices, commercial organisations, charities and public sector bodies, hiring for accountancy, finance, HR, operations and marketing roles.
Financial Health
StableStable · 0% CAGR over 2y
Location
BELT BUREAU LTD
Trajectory
3y · 2023–NowFinancial sub-scores
Computed from 3 filingsFinancial Health
DistressedDistressed
Location
H & V Employment Limited
Trajectory
3y · 2023–NowFinancial sub-scores
Computed from 3 filingsFinancial Health
StrongStrong · Hiring · 29% CAGR over 2y
Location
Seabarn Management Services Limited
Trajectory
3y · 2023–NowFinancial sub-scores
Computed from 3 filingsFinancial Health
StableStable
Location
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How Plymouth Recruitment companies work and how to sell to them
What they do
Plymouth recruitment firms usually earn from success fees on permanent placements, gross margin on temporary labour, contract-worker mark-ups and repeat hiring campaigns for local employers. Permanent work is normally invoiced as a percentage of the placed worker’s starting salary, while temporary and contract supply is billed through timesheets, payroll runs and weekly or monthly invoices. Engagement size ranges from a single vacancy to an account covering recurring shifts or contractor needs. The service shape is operational rather than purely advisory: sourcing candidates, screening, checking eligibility to work, agreeing assignment terms, managing payroll cut-offs and keeping hiring managers close enough to release roles before competitors do.
Who they sell to
Most sell to owner-managed businesses, regional branches, care providers, schools, engineering employers and professional-services firms across Plymouth and the South West. The buyer is often an HR lead, operations manager, finance controller, practice manager or site lead with an immediate vacancy, not a central procurement function. Urgent temporary cover can be agreed quickly by phone or email, while preferred-supplier status, framework work and higher-volume accounts tend to involve more documentation, rate negotiation and checks on insurance, compliance and payroll process. Direct sales, local referrals and repeat account management usually matter more than self-serve acquisition, although job advertising and candidate inbound still feed the desk.
What they buy
Most Plymouth recruiters tend to spend on systems that protect margin and reduce manual work across candidate, client and payroll workflows. Common categories include applicant tracking, recruitment CRM, job-board posting, candidate communications, timesheet capture, payroll, invoicing, credit control, accounting, document storage and electronic signature. Agencies supplying temporary workers also need right-to-work checking, background screening, audit trails, insurance, employment-law advice and processes for handling disputed hours. As desk teams grow, spend often moves into call tracking, email deliverability, reporting, cyber security, HR support for their own staff, sales training and outsourced marketing. The budget holder may be the founder, branch manager or finance lead rather than a dedicated technology buyer.
Why and how to sell to them
Recruitment buyers tend to evaluate suppliers when admin starts to slow placements, cash collection tightens, a new account requires better reporting, or compliance work becomes too exposed to spreadsheet error. Temporary-worker supply creates a particular trigger because wages still have to be paid when hirer approval or payment lags. Useful outbound angles are therefore concrete: fewer missed timesheets, clearer audit evidence, faster candidate redeployment, cleaner client billing, shorter debtor cycles or better visibility across desks. Signals worth watching include new branch hires, a move into regulated or shift-based labour supply, founder succession, a finance hire, a preferred-supplier win or complaints about candidate availability.
How this list is built
Data sources
This list is built from UK Companies House filings, XBRL accounts data, and semantic analysis of each company's public website. Revenue and headcount figures come from the most recent filed accounts; where the company has not filed, values are estimated using a model trained on filed history and peer benchmarks and are labelled as estimates.
Classification
Rather than relying solely on SIC codes, Firmbase classifies each company semantically: the company's website is crawled, an AI model reads what the company actually sells, and the company is placed into the relevant industry and subsectors. SIC codes are used as one signal but not the only one. This means a company that registered under a generic SIC code but pivoted into (for example) fintech is correctly identified as fintech, not as its original SIC category.
Freshness
The underlying company data is refreshed from Companies House continuously; filings appear in the list within days of submission. The curated list ordering is regenerated when the underlying data moves meaningfully (company count changes by more than 5%, a new company enters the top-ranked segment, or the filed-revenue numbers for the top firms change). You can see the last-updated timestamp near the top of the page.
Also in Plymouth
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