The client

Our client is a leading social enterprise delivering employment, skills, and business support services across the North of England. In 2023, the organisation identified the Home Office’s Refugee Employability Programme (REP) as a key opportunity to advance their mission – supporting refugee integration through tailored employment services.

Recognising the strategic importance and complexity of the opportunity, our client approached 50 Degrees for expert support in shaping a winning bid. They were seeking a partner who could help align their vision with programme priorities, articulate impact, and strengthen their position in the market.

The challenge

The procurement process for REP was highly competitive, with providers across the UK competing for limited regional contracts. To stand out amongst its competitors, we needed to demonstrate a deep understanding of refugee needs, underpinned by a clear and credible plan for delivering meaningful employment and integration outcomes. This meant building a strong, locally focused delivery model that demonstrated a capacity to achieve results and clearly articulated their impact on participants.

What we did

50 Degrees provided comprehensive bid writing services, including:

Narrative Development: crafting clear and compelling responses that highlighted our client’s extensive experience, innovative approach to refugee integration, and commitment to social value

Evidence Integration: incorporating data and case studies into each response to substantiate claims and clearly demonstrate the organisation’s impact in similar programmes

Alignment with Objective: framing the narrative around the Home Office’s objectives for the Refugee Employability Programme by emphasising tailored support, community integration, and sustainable employment outcomes

The Result

Our client secured the £5.71m contract to deliver the Refugee Employability Programme. Since launching in September 2023, they have supported 1,100+ refugees, helping more than 250 individuals from 47 nationalities into secure employment – including roles such as early years practitioners, integration officers, and software engineers.