Recruitment Companies in Portsmouth: 242 Active Firms (2026)
Recruitment companies in Portsmouth place permanent, temporary and contract workers for employers across the city and wider Solent labour market.
Buying tends to sit with HR, operations and site-management teams rather than procurement alone, especially where employers need temp-labour cover, permanent search or managed staffing around variable demand. Portsmouth and Solent buyers include SMEs and mid-market employers alongside public-sector, logistics, care, maritime and professional-services organisations. Engagements often sit between ad hoc permanent mandates, repeat shift cover and retained staffing arrangements, so operating credibility rests on onboarding checks, written terms, payroll handling, timesheets and agency-worker rights as much as candidate reach.
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Portsmouth has 242 actively trading recruitment and staffing firms, making this a local market with breadth across small specialist desks and a narrower layer of higher-turnover operators. Reported headcount across the cohort is 1,342 people, so the employment footprint is visible as well as transactional. Scale is uneven: the cohort includes 5 with turnover above £5M, while 70 have been incorporated since 2022. That mix points to a market where newer agencies keep entering around local employer demand, but only a limited group has reached the revenue band associated with wider managed-service or multi-site hiring work.
UK staffing businesses are mainly governed through the Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses Regulations, not through a broad operating licence. Work-finding fees cannot be charged to work-seekers, wages due cannot be withheld, and workers need key information documents and written terms before work-search activity starts. Employment businesses supplying temporary labour remain responsible for paying workers for hours worked even where the hirer has not paid or has not authorised a timesheet. The Fair Work Agency now sits over this enforcement area. Labour supply into agriculture, horticulture, shellfish gathering and related processing is the main adjacent licensing issue, where a gangmaster’s licence may be required.
Portsmouth’s recruitment market appears likely to stay fragmented, with many newer agencies competing against a smaller group of higher-turnover operators. Demand tends to be local and operational: employers need cover for shifts, projects, seasonal work and hard-to-fill specialist roles, rather than abstract workforce strategy. Compliance pressure has been moving from paperwork into day-to-day process, particularly around worker documents, pay, timesheets and rights for agency workers. That favours agencies with disciplined back-office routines, while consolidation may remain selective where buyers want broader coverage across the Solent rather than a narrow specialist desk.
What’s in the file
One row per company, 50+ columns — everything below plus each company’s verified directors, from Companies House filings.
Company data
Verified directors — included
242
Active firms
2026
5
Above £5M turnover
Portsmouth recruitment firms
70
Incorporated since 2022
Newer local entrants
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Key facts
About 2% of the trading cohort reports turnover above £5M (5 of 242 firms) — the rest sits below that revenue band.
28% of the cohort was incorporated since 2022 (70 firms), so a sizeable share is in its first few filing cycles.
The Recruitment and Employment Confederation puts the recruitment industry’s contribution at £40.6 billion in 2025, equal to 1.6% of UK Gross Value Added.
Temporary and contract placements accounted for 76.7% of recruitment GVA in 2025, while around 872,000 temporary or contract workers were on assignment on any given day in 2024.
Employment agencies and employment businesses must not charge work-seekers for work-finding services, with written terms and a key information document required before work-search activity begins.
The Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses Regulations 2003 sit behind core agency rules, with enforcement now shown on GOV.UK as the Fair Work Agency.
Labour providers supplying agriculture, horticulture, shellfish gathering and associated processing or packaging may need a Fair Work Agency gangmaster’s licence under the Gangmasters (Licensing) Act 2004.
Top Portsmouth Recruitment companies
Provides recruitment and workforce solutions through its brands Advanced Resource Managers (ARM) and Optamor, supplying talent acquisition, staffing, and people management services to enterprises and…
Serves B2B clients ranging from global enterprises to ambitious SMEs, particularly employers and HR/talent teams seeking recruitment, talent acquisition, growth and retention support.
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Computed from 5 filingsProvides recruitment and staffing services, supplying temporary, permanent and temp‑to‑perm workers for industrial, warehouse, manufacturing, waste and recycling, and driving roles. Screens and…
Serves employers in manufacturing, warehouse, waste and recycling, logistics and driving across Hampshire, Heathrow and nearby counties, plus jobseekers seeking temporary, permanent and temp-to-perm…
Financial Health
HealthyHealthy · Hiring · 47% CAGR over 6y
Location
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Computed from 5 filingsProvides recruitment and staffing services for the energy sector, focusing on power generation, renewable energy and nuclear industries. Places engineers, technical specialists and managers in…
Serves energy employers seeking technical engineers and leaders, especially in power generation, renewable energy and nuclear, across permanent and contract hiring. Also targets engineering,…
Financial Health
WeakWeak · -67% CAGR over 4y
Location
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Computed from 3 filingsProvides recruitment services for technical and engineering roles. Sources and places engineers, technicians, operators and managers for sectors including power generation, renewable energy,…
Serves UK employers in technical and engineering sectors, especially power generation, renewable energy and data centres, seeking managerial, operational and technical staff.
Financial Health
StableStable · Hiring · 25% CAGR over 2y
Location
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Computed from 3 filingsProvides recruitment services specialising in accounting and finance roles. Matches candidates with employers for temporary and permanent positions and supports businesses with hiring for finance,…
Serves businesses recruiting accountancy and finance staff, alongside individual accounting professionals seeking temporary or permanent roles.
Financial Health
WeakWeak · 0% CAGR over 2y
Location
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Computed from 5 filingsProvides recruitment and staffing services, supplying temporary, contract and permanent workers. Recruits for roles across industrial and warehouse operations, commercial office functions,…
Serves UK employers hiring temporary, contract and permanent staff, particularly in commercial, construction and M&E, industrial, IT, office, sales and marketing, and automotive sectors. Also targets…
Financial Health
DistressedDistressed · -16% CAGR over 6y
Location
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Computed from 2 filingsProvides home care and private nursing services, including personal care and support for seniors and individuals at home. Supplies nurses, healthcare assistants and support workers to residential,…
Serves individuals and families needing home, senior or personal care, plus supported living homes, residential and nursing homes, and health and social care organisations.
Financial Health
StrongStrong · Hiring · 20% CAGR over 1y
Location
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Computed from 4 filingsProvides recruitment services for the new homes and property sector, placing candidates with housing developers, housing associations and estate agencies in roles across sales, marketing, land,…
Serves UK housing developers, housing associations and estate agencies, alongside candidates seeking new homes and property roles across sales, marketing, land, commercial, construction, technical…
Financial Health
StrongStrong · Growing · 0% CAGR over 3y
Location
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Computed from 5 filingsProvides recruitment and labour supply services for the construction, civil engineering, and mechanical and electrical sectors, sourcing skilled tradespeople such as electricians, groundworkers,…
Serves UK construction, mechanical & electrical and civils employers, including local and national main contractors, housing developers and subcontractors needing skilled site labour.
Financial Health
HealthyHealthy · 0% CAGR over 4y
Location
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Computed from 5 filingsSupplies temporary and permanent healthcare staff, including carers, healthcare assistants, nurses and cleaners, to nursing homes, residential homes, hospitals and supported living services. Also…
Serves healthcare-sector organisations, including nursing homes, residential homes, hospitals, supported living providers, rehabilitation centres and other care establishments needing care, nursing,…
Financial Health
WeakWeak · Hiring · 79% CAGR over 4y
Location
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Computed from 5 filingsFinancial Health
DistressedDistressed · -73% CAGR over 4y
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Computed from 3 filingsRecruitment agency supplying temporary and flexible staff to health and social care providers, including social workers, nurses, care assistants, support workers and domestic staff. Also offers job…
Serves health and social care organisations across the UK, including hospitals and social care providers needing temporary social workers, nurses, care assistants, support workers and domestic staff.
Financial Health
DistressedDistressed · -42% CAGR over 2y
Location
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Computed from 5 filingsProvides recruitment and staffing services for the construction, mechanical and electrical (M&E), datacoms, logistics and industrial sectors. Sources and places temporary and permanent workers,…
Serves employers and job candidates in the construction, mechanical and electrical, industrial, data centre, datacoms and logistics sectors across the UK and Europe.
Financial Health
StableStable · -71% CAGR over 4y
Location
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Computed from 5 filingsSupplies temporary staff to healthcare and support settings, including nurses, care workers and support workers. Also provides cleaning and catering personnel such as cleaners and chefs to healthcare…
Serves healthcare facilities and care-sector providers, plus households and organisations seeking cleaning or chef staff; buyers include managers booking temporary care, nursing and domestic support.
Financial Health
StableStable · Hiring · 48% CAGR over 5y
Location
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Computed from 4 filingsRecruitment agency supplying temporary and permanent staff, including social workers, nurses, care assistants and support workers, to health and social care organisations. Also provides domestic and…
Serves health and social care organisations needing temporary social workers, nurses, care assistants and support workers, alongside commercial and domestic clients seeking cleaning and maintenance…
Financial Health
HealthyHealthy · Hiring · 36% CAGR over 3y
Location
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Computed from 5 filingsFinancial Health
WeakWeak
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Computed from 5 filingsFinancial Health
WeakWeak · -68% CAGR over 4y
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Computed from 5 filingsFinancial Health
StrongStrong · -1% CAGR over 4y
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Computed from 4 filingsFinancial Health
StrongStrong · Hiring · 27% CAGR over 3y
Location
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Computed from 5 filingsFinancial Health
StableStable · -71% CAGR over 4y
Location
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Computed from 5 filingsProvides recruitment services for the oil, gas, petrochemical and nuclear sectors, placing contract and permanent staff for EPCM projects. Sources engineers, designers, project managers and technical…
Serves energy owner/operators, EPC/EPCM contractors and supply chain firms, plus contractors and jobseekers, in the oil, gas, petrochemical and nuclear sectors.
Financial Health
StableStable · -71% CAGR over 4y
Location
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Computed from 5 filingsProvides specialist recruitment and executive search services for healthcare and care sectors, including hospitals, primary care, dental, veterinary, elderly care, mental health, and children’s…
Serves healthcare and care-sector employers, including hospitals, primary care, dental, veterinary, elderly care, adult specialist care, children’s services and education providers, as well as…
Financial Health
WeakWeak · Hiring · 5% CAGR over 5y
Location
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Computed from 3 filingsProvides recruitment services for pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical technology and consumer health organisations. Sources and places candidates in permanent and contract roles across functions…
Serves pharma, biotech, MedTech, healthtech, CRO, CDMO, consultancy and consumer health employers, alongside life sciences professionals seeking permanent or contract roles across UK, Europe and US.
Financial Health
DistressedDistressed · -12% CAGR over 2y
Location
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Computed from 3 filingsProvides executive search and talent management services, identifying and recruiting senior professionals for client organisations. Offers talent mapping, leadership succession planning and…
Serves B2B clients from start-ups to global businesses needing leadership hires, especially in biotechnology, CDMO/CRO, commercial construction, civil engineering, infrastructure, logistics, supply…
Financial Health
DistressedDistressed
Location
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Computed from 5 filingsProvides executive search and recruitment services for the luxury hospitality and ultra‑high‑net‑worth sectors, sourcing and placing staff for hotels, resorts, restaurants, cruise lines, superyachts…
Serves B2B clients in luxury hospitality and UHNW sectors, including luxury hotels, restaurants, cruise lines, 5-star resorts, superyacht owners and private estates seeking recruitment and talent…
Financial Health
HealthyHealthy · -5% CAGR over 4y
Location
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Computed from 5 filingsProvides domiciliary care and supported living services, delivering in-home support and assistance for independent living. Also operates an employment agency recruiting and supplying healthcare,…
Serves care recipients and families needing domiciliary care or supported living across the UK, and care-sector organisations seeking permanent, temporary or contract healthcare, support, nursing and…
Financial Health
WeakWeak · Hiring · 50% CAGR over 4y
Location
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Computed from 5 filingsProvides recruitment services for high technology and engineering sectors, sourcing and placing candidates in roles such as design engineering, data, manufacturing, and technical development for…
Serves high-technology and engineering employers, including startups, scale-ups, OEMs and manufacturers, plus technical candidates in design, development, manufacturing, data, aerospace and…
Financial Health
StableStable · -3% CAGR over 4y
Location
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Provides recruitment services for science, technology, engineering and mathematics sectors, placing graduates and experienced professionals in roles across engineering, technology, finance and…
Serves UK tech innovators, research institutions and STEM-driven employers in engineering, science, technology and financial/commercial services, plus STEM graduates and experienced professionals…
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Computed from 5 filingsProvides specialist recruitment services for the insurance claims sector, sourcing and placing candidates in roles such as claims handling, adjusting, management, operations, fraud, and analytics for…
Serves insurance and reinsurance businesses hiring claims specialists, across Lloyd’s, London Market, UK commercial and personal lines, plus claims professionals from entry-level roles to senior…
Financial Health
HealthyHealthy · Hiring · 5% CAGR over 4y
Location
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Computed from 5 filingsProvides executive search and talent research services for the automotive and mobility sector. Conducts senior leadership recruitment, interim talent placements, talent mapping, salary benchmarking,…
Serves global automotive and mobility businesses, including OEMs, luxury brands and national sales companies, targeting executive teams, HR leaders and investors.
Financial Health
StableStable · -65% CAGR over 4y
Location
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Computed from 3 filingsFinancial Health
StrongStrong · Hiring · 73% CAGR over 2y
Location
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Financial Health
N/AN/A
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Computed from 5 filingsFinancial Health
DistressedDistressed
Location
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Computed from 3 filingsFinancial Health
DistressedDistressed
Location
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Computed from 5 filingsFinancial Health
StrongStrong · 26% CAGR over 3y
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Computed from 2 filingsFinancial Health
DistressedDistressed
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Computed from 2 filingsFinancial Health
DistressedDistressed
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Computed from 4 filingsFinancial Health
HealthyHealthy
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Computed from 5 filingsFinancial Health
DistressedDistressed
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Computed from 5 filingsFinancial Health
DistressedDistressed · -67% CAGR over 4y
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Computed from 4 filingsFinancial Health
DistressedDistressed
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Computed from 5 filingsFinancial Health
DistressedDistressed · -71% CAGR over 4y
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Financial Health
N/AN/A
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Computed from 5 filingsProvides outsourced HR and recruitment process outsourcing services for employers, covering employee lifecycle activities including talent attraction, executive search, onboarding, compliance,…
Sells to businesses needing outsourced HR, recruitment and employee lifecycle support, including employers seeking a fully outsourced HR department, internal recruitment support, executive search,…
Financial Health
StrongStrong · Growing, Hiring · 28% CAGR over 4y
Location
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Computed from 5 filingsFinancial Health
StrongStrong · Hiring · 11% CAGR over 4y
Location
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Computed from 5 filingsProvides recruitment and staffing services, placing temporary, permanent and contract workers. Recruits for roles in office support, accountancy, legal, industrial and technical positions, and offers…
Serves employers hiring temporary, permanent and contract staff, plus jobseekers, in the Hampshire area across office support, accountancy, industrial and technical support roles.
Financial Health
HealthyHealthy · Hiring · 11% CAGR over 4y
Location
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Computed from 5 filingsProvides recruitment and staffing services for safety‑critical industries, sourcing and placing skilled professionals in technical, engineering and operational roles, and supporting employers and…
Serves employers and candidates in safety-critical industries across the UK, EU and US, including businesses hiring specialist talent in regulated sectors.
Financial Health
WeakWeak · 0% CAGR over 4y
Location
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Computed from 3 filingsProvides recruitment services for the subsea, oil and gas, offshore renewables, and marine and shipbuilding sectors, sourcing and placing engineers and technical personnel for design, fabrication,…
Serves employers and job candidates in subsea, marine and offshore sectors, including oil and gas, offshore renewables, and marine shipbuilding, with roles spanning design, fabrication and operations…
Financial Health
StableStable · -12% CAGR over 2y
Location
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Computed from 5 filingsProvides recruitment and staffing services across HR, commercial, accountancy and finance, and IT sectors. Sources candidates, advertises job vacancies, and supports employers with hiring, including…
Serves employers and jobseekers, covering HR, accountancy and finance, IT and technology, and commercial roles such as sales, marketing, administration, customer service, secretarial and supply…
Financial Health
StrongStrong · Growing, Hiring · 6% CAGR over 4y
Location
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Computed from 5 filingsProvides recruitment services for the yacht and superyacht industry, placing crew in deck, interior, galley and engineering roles. Also recruits shoreside maritime staff and personnel for private…
Serves yacht and superyacht employers, cruise and maritime businesses, private households, and candidates seeking yacht crew, shoreside maritime, or luxury household roles.
Financial Health
StableStable · Hiring · 4% CAGR over 4y
Location
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How Portsmouth Recruitment companies work and how to sell to them
What they do
Recruitment firms make money from placing people, supplying labour and managing hiring processes for employers. Permanent recruitment is usually charged as a success fee or staged retained fee, while temporary and contract staffing earns a margin between the worker pay rate and the client bill rate. Some agencies add payroll administration, screening, compliance checks or managed staffing as service lines. The product is not software in itself: it is a mix of candidate access, local market knowledge, vetting, pay administration and response time. Cash collection matters because temp workers still need paying even when clients approve timesheets late.
Who they sell to
Most Portsmouth recruitment agencies sell to employers with recurring hiring gaps, rather than to jobseekers. Buyers are typically HR managers, finance directors, operations leads, care managers, warehouse managers, facilities teams and practice owners, with owner-managed firms often buying directly from agency directors. Permanent mandates tend to be agreed vacancy by vacancy, while temporary staffing relationships are more likely to sit on rate cards, preferred supplier lists or short service agreements. Larger employers and public-sector bodies may use tenders or framework-style procurement, but many local deals still start through direct outreach, referrals and evidence that the agency can fill roles competitors are missing.
What they buy
Recruitment firms tend to spend on tools and services that help them find candidates, keep candidate records clean, pay workers correctly and prove compliance. Common categories include applicant tracking systems, recruitment CRM, job advertising, candidate sourcing tools, background screening, right-to-work checks, e-signature, payroll, timesheet capture, accounting, credit control and invoice finance. Agencies with temp books often need tighter links between rota changes, worker availability, client approvals and payroll cut-offs. They also buy legal advice, insurance, recruitment marketing, website support, local search activity, phone systems, cloud storage, cyber security and consultant training, especially when moving from permanent placement into higher-volume staffing.
Why and how to sell to them
Recruitment buyers tend to evaluate vendors when admin starts to slow consultants down, when late timesheets threaten payroll accuracy, or when compliance work becomes too dependent on individual desk habits. Other triggers include opening a new desk, hiring consultants, winning a larger client, moving into temp labour, changing finance leadership or preparing for public-sector procurement. Outbound messages usually land better when they connect to gross margin, fill speed, candidate conversion, worker-pay accuracy or audit evidence. Generic efficiency claims are less useful than showing how a process removes rekeying, reduces missed documents, shortens invoice cycles or helps consultants spend more time on live vacancies.
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.
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Frequently asked questions
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