The Challenge

The Growth Company is a not-for-profit, commercially driven organisation dedicated to economic development, inward investment, skills, employment and enterprise. Established in Manchester in 1989, they have been the driving force behind growth in England’s second city for nearly three decades.

Growth Company deliver a wide range of Government-funded employability and skills programmes and wanted some support to help win a key new programme with the National Citizens Service. This large, £88million contract was issued to run for 3 years, with a 2-year extension option. Its goal is to provide personal and social development programmes for upwards of 16,000 young people.

£88m new contract win

League table topping contract performance

The Response

4OC and 50 Degrees worked together to provide the Growth Company business development and operational teams with:

  • Bid Management
  • Solution Design
  • Bid Writing
  • Mobilisation Planning and support
  • Contract Implementation Support

The Outcome

The Growth Company tender was successful – winning a new contract valued at over £88m.

The 4OC team then worked alongside Growth Company staff in Manchester over the course of three months leading up to their go-live date, to support actions including implementation planning, TUPE negotiations, staff induction and training, as well as coordinating the completion of readiness activities set out by the Trust.

The Growth Company contract got off to a great start, enjoying league table topping performance. A number of the 4OC mobilisation tools used by Growth Company were shared by the Commissioner with other suppliers as examples of best practice.

Michelle Leeson, Managing Director of The Growth Company recently provided us with some really positive feedback:

“I’ve had the pleasure of working with both 50 Degrees and 4OC on a number of public service programmes. The National Citizen Service is a great example, where 50 Degrees supported our Business Development team to secure the management contract for the North West, and 4OC worked with us to successfully implement and embed the programme. They’re a great team to work with, and I believe their new partnership will be of great benefit to their clients.”