A Bid with Purpose: Supporting a Global FM Provider in Driving Social Impact for Prisons and Probation
🢂 THE CLIENT
A global facilities management provider, employing over 130,000 people across more than 30 countries and serving a diverse portfolio of 8,000+ customers, set its sights on a major opportunity: the ÂŁ300 million Property Transformation Programme (PTP).
This ambitious programme, led by a central government department, aims to reshape the delivery of facilities management across the prison, probation, and headquarters estate - placing innovation, efficiency, and social value at its core.
🢂 THE BACKGROUND
Recognising the increasing importance of social value in public sector procurement, a leading facilities services provider engaged Samtaler to assist their bid team with specialist guidance and subject matter expertise.
Having previously worked together on an NHS tender, there was already a positive working relationship in place and a strong appreciation for the quality of support provided.
As the tender progressed, it became clear that the complexity of the programme and the high standards required demanded a more focused and expert-led approach. With internal capacity under pressure and a growing awareness that a winning response would require deep, integrated expertise in both social value and bid writing, the provider made the strategic decision to delegate full responsibility for the social value submission to Samtaler.
🢂 THE CHALLENGE
As the bid process evolved, so too did the requirements set out by the commissioning authority. It quickly became a dynamic and fast-moving environment, demanding adaptability from the bid team.
One of the key challenges was ensuring that the social value response remained aligned not only with the authority’s expectations but also with the broader commercial, operational, and delivery elements of the bid. Close collaboration across all bid workstreams became essential
The team worked hand-in-hand with commercial leads, operational planners, and technical authors to ensure the proposed solution was fully integrated, realistic in its delivery, appropriately costed, and aligned with the wider objectives of the contract.
“The team came across well, knowledgeable and experienced. Great support given - flexible approach and clear/transparent pricing/billing.”
🢂 OUR SOLUTION
At the heart of the social value proposal was a structured, outcomes-driven method statement focused on supporting the employability and employment of prison-leavers and individuals on probation. Reflecting the organisation’s long-term ambition to become a leading employer of ex-offenders, the response needed to be both ambitious and grounded, demonstrating measurable impact, clear delivery pathways, and a credible commitment to lasting change.
🢂 THE RESULTS
The final social value submission was authored by Samtaler in close collaboration with the organisation’s ESG team, ensuring the response reflected both subject matter expertise and the organisation’s long-term vision and experience within facilities management. The result was a compelling bid response that successfully passed both internal red and gold reviews, meeting rigorous internal standards and positioning the submission strongly.
What set this response apart was the way social value was embedded not as a standalone component, but as a core pillar of the overall solution. The commitment to train, support, and employ ex-offenders through the contract enables the organisation to deliver meaningful, lasting impact and better meet the needs of the contract. The response reflects a genuine ambition to lead the way in inclusive employment and social impact within the sector.
The project was led by Kate Graefe, Social Value Director, and Tilly Crowhurst, Social Value Consultant.
How we can help
From responding to social value questions to helping you make sure your bid stands out from your competitors without impacting on price, we are here to help commercial teams understand social value requirements and respond to complex questions and win contracts.
Reach out today via hello@samtaler.co.uk or read more about our Bid Writing and Design services