The client

A global, French-headquartered outsourcing company with a revenue of over £20bn and an established track record in custodial services across multiple international markets

The challenge

With a strong operational reputation in the UK and internationally, our client was well-positioned to pursue multiple opportunities under the Ministry of Justice’s (MoJ) Prison Operator Services Framework. The procurement covered the management of four high-profile UK prisons – HMP Lowdham Grange, HMP Altcourse, HMP Forest Bank, and a joint venture bid for HMP Parc.

Securing these contracts required more than a proven track record. The complex, multi-stage procurement process required highly tailored strategies, refreshed delivery models, and compelling, high-impact written submissions that demonstrated innovation, deep local insight, and the ability to deliver in high-stakes environments.

What we did

50 Degrees was engaged to provide end-to-end support across all phases of the procurement process, from win theme and value proposition development through to final bid submission. This included:

Win Strategy and Value Proposition Development: working closely with the client’s UK and global teams to craft a compelling and innovative win strategy highlighting the client’s operational expertise and alignment with MoJ priorities

Solution Design: supporting all elements of solution development from day one of engagement, spanning operating model design, resourcing strategies, partnership models, and bespoke custodial solutions

Bid Management and Bid Writing: leading the drafting, development, and finalisation of all submitted responses across multiple 300+ page bids. Our team of bid writers, solution designers, and subject matter experts managed content development throughout the bidding process, including challenging key solutions via regular workshops with the client

Bid Infographic Production: leveraging our partnership with award-winning design company TDL to produce branded, impactful infographics that helped bring the client’s solution to life.

The result

Our strategic and integrated leadership approach helped the client elevate its existing offer and stand out in a highly competitive procurement landscape. As a result, the client secured a transformative expansion of its UK custodial portfolio, winning over £1 billion in new contracts across HMP Lowdham Grange (£250m), HMP Altcourse (£350m), and HMP Forest Bank (£400m).