diff --git a/package-lock.json b/package-lock.json
index 4d4c8da14..ae153cb9c 100644
--- a/package-lock.json
+++ b/package-lock.json
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
       "license": "SEE LICENSE IN LICENSE",
       "dependencies": {
         "@aws-sdk/client-sns": "^3.1079.0",
-        "@defra/forms-engine-plugin": "^5.0.0-alpha.21",
+        "@defra/forms-engine-plugin": "^5.0.0-alpha.22",
         "@defra/forms-model": "^3.0.704",
         "@defra/hapi-tracing": "^1.30.0",
         "@elastic/ecs-pino-format": "^1.5.0",
@@ -2492,9 +2492,9 @@
       }
     },
     "node_modules/@defra/forms-engine-plugin": {
-      "version": "5.0.0-alpha.21",
-      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@defra/forms-engine-plugin/-/forms-engine-plugin-5.0.0-alpha.21.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha512-rIh67XQNAD/5i/yHQIF+G0y+NxHLyYNeGn+qK2H7MxnHFZBSara/QnCrG0nwexuwOETpmxarZRaPsd2AQxtMjw==",
+      "version": "5.0.0-alpha.22",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@defra/forms-engine-plugin/-/forms-engine-plugin-5.0.0-alpha.22.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-RvBiWL66qi8ahtainewL2dTFf4yBtpsZo0QHjvAgjupOl7cSse7J8FXLY/sbl3+yx9NeFUdyUHMMK/3uDStESA==",
       "hasInstallScript": true,
       "license": "SEE LICENSE IN LICENSE",
       "dependencies": {
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 3bd460389..d5fa7f5e2 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@
   "license": "SEE LICENSE IN LICENSE",
   "dependencies": {
     "@aws-sdk/client-sns": "^3.1079.0",
-    "@defra/forms-engine-plugin": "^5.0.0-alpha.21",
+    "@defra/forms-engine-plugin": "^5.0.0-alpha.22",
     "@defra/forms-model": "^3.0.704",
     "@defra/hapi-tracing": "^1.30.0",
     "@elastic/ecs-pino-format": "^1.5.0",
diff --git a/src/server/index.test.ts b/src/server/index.test.ts
index c16564fef..de66221ab 100644
--- a/src/server/index.test.ts
+++ b/src/server/index.test.ts
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import { StatusCodes } from 'http-status-codes'
 import { FORM_PREFIX } from '~/src/server/constants.js'
 import { configureEnginePlugin, createServer } from '~/src/server/index.js'
 import {
+  generateReferenceNumber,
   getFormDefinition,
   getFormMetadata
 } from '~/src/server/services/formsService.js'
@@ -31,6 +32,7 @@ describe('Model cache', () => {
 
   beforeEach(() => {
     jest.mocked(getFormMetadata).mockResolvedValue(fixtures.form.metadata)
+    jest.mocked(generateReferenceNumber).mockResolvedValue('XXX-XXX-XXX')
     server.app.models.clear()
   })
 
diff --git a/src/server/index.ts b/src/server/index.ts
index caeee20a4..cddb872a2 100644
--- a/src/server/index.ts
+++ b/src/server/index.ts
@@ -191,7 +191,8 @@ export const configureEnginePlugin = async ({
       },
       ordnanceSurveyApiKey: config.get('ordnanceSurveyApiKey'),
       ordnanceSurveyApiSecret: config.get('ordnanceSurveyApiSecret'),
-      getLanguage: resolveLanguage
+      getLanguage: resolveLanguage,
+      generateReferenceNumber: formsService.generateReferenceNumber
     }
   }
   const routeOptions = {
diff --git a/src/server/services/formsService.js b/src/server/services/formsService.js
index 4926eb709..a1aea64ef 100644
--- a/src/server/services/formsService.js
+++ b/src/server/services/formsService.js
@@ -113,6 +113,27 @@ export async function validateSaveAndExitCredentials(
   return results
 }
 
+/**
+ * Generates a unique reference number
+ * @param {string} [prefix] - the prefix
+ */
+export async function generateReferenceNumber(prefix) {
+  const postJsonByType =
+    /** @type {typeof postJson<GenerateReferenceNumber>} */ (postJson)
+
+  const query = prefix ? `?prefix=${prefix}` : ''
+  const { payload: results } = await postJsonByType(
+    `${submissionUrl}/submission/generate-reference-number${query}`,
+    { payload: {}, timeout: 10 * 1000 } // 10 seconds
+  )
+
+  if (!results) {
+    throw new Error('Unexpected empty response in generateReferenceNumber')
+  }
+
+  return results.referenceNumber
+}
+
 /**
  * Retrieves a form secret and decrypts the value
  * @param {string} formId - the id of the form
@@ -130,5 +151,5 @@ export async function getFormSecret(formId, secretName) {
 
 /**
  * @import { FormDefinition, FormMetadata } from '@defra/forms-model'
- * @import { SaveAndExitDetails, SaveAndExitResumeDetails } from '~/src/server/types.js'
+ * @import { GenerateReferenceNumber, SaveAndExitDetails, SaveAndExitResumeDetails } from '~/src/server/types.js'
  */
diff --git a/src/server/services/formsService.test.js b/src/server/services/formsService.test.js
index 5423110ec..f106b0d30 100644
--- a/src/server/services/formsService.test.js
+++ b/src/server/services/formsService.test.js
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ import { FormStatus } from '@defra/forms-engine-plugin/types'
 import { StatusCodes } from 'http-status-codes'
 
 import {
+  generateReferenceNumber,
   getFormDefinition,
   getFormMetadata,
   getFormMetadataById,
@@ -217,6 +218,56 @@ describe('Forms service', () => {
     })
   })
 
+  describe('generateReferenceNumber', () => {
+    it('returns the generated reference number', async () => {
+      jest.mocked(postJson).mockResolvedValue({
+        res: /** @type {IncomingMessage} */ ({
+          statusCode: StatusCodes.OK
+        }),
+        payload: { referenceNumber: 'XXX-XXX-XXX' }
+      })
+
+      const referenceNumber = await generateReferenceNumber()
+
+      expect(referenceNumber).toBe('XXX-XXX-XXX')
+      expect(postJson).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+        `${SUBMISSION_URL}/submission/generate-reference-number`,
+        { payload: {}, timeout: 10 * 1000 } // 10 seconds
+      )
+    })
+
+    it('returns the generated reference number with prefix', async () => {
+      jest.mocked(postJson).mockResolvedValue({
+        res: /** @type {IncomingMessage} */ ({
+          statusCode: StatusCodes.OK
+        }),
+        payload: { referenceNumber: 'XYZ-XXX-XXX' }
+      })
+
+      const referenceNumber = await generateReferenceNumber('XYZ')
+
+      expect(referenceNumber).toBe('XYZ-XXX-XXX')
+      expect(postJson).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+        `${SUBMISSION_URL}/submission/generate-reference-number?prefix=XYZ`,
+        { payload: {}, timeout: 10 * 1000 } // 10 seconds
+      )
+    })
+
+    it('throws if no results', async () => {
+      // @ts-expect-error - partial mock of payload
+      jest.mocked(postJson).mockResolvedValue({
+        res: /** @type {IncomingMessage} */ ({
+          statusCode: StatusCodes.OK
+        }),
+        payload: undefined
+      })
+
+      await expect(() => generateReferenceNumber()).rejects.toThrow(
+        'Unexpected empty response in generateReferenceNumber'
+      )
+    })
+  })
+
   describe('getFormSecret', () => {
     beforeEach(() => {
       // @ts-expect-error - mock fetch
diff --git a/src/server/types.ts b/src/server/types.ts
index 26b6c24f1..c0529eff9 100644
--- a/src/server/types.ts
+++ b/src/server/types.ts
@@ -70,3 +70,7 @@ export interface SaveAndExitDetails {
 export interface SaveAndExitResumeDetails extends SaveAndExitDetails {
   validPassword: boolean
 }
+
+export interface GenerateReferenceNumber {
+  referenceNumber: string
+}
diff --git a/test/form/confirmation-email.test.js b/test/form/confirmation-email.test.js
index 155af1a54..08348329e 100644
--- a/test/form/confirmation-email.test.js
+++ b/test/form/confirmation-email.test.js
@@ -7,7 +7,10 @@ import { StatusCodes } from 'http-status-codes'
 
 import { FORM_PREFIX } from '~/src/server/constants.js'
 import { createServer } from '~/src/server/index.js'
-import { getFormMetadata } from '~/src/server/services/formsService.js'
+import {
+  generateReferenceNumber,
+  getFormMetadata
+} from '~/src/server/services/formsService.js'
 import * as fixtures from '~/test/fixtures/index.js'
 import { renderResponse } from '~/test/helpers/component-helpers.js'
 import { getCookie, getCookieHeader } from '~/test/utils/get-cookie.js'
@@ -99,6 +102,7 @@ describe('Confirmation email', () => {
     // server.app.models.clear()
     jest.clearAllMocks()
     jest.mocked(getFormMetadata).mockResolvedValue(fixtures.form.metadata)
+    jest.mocked(generateReferenceNumber).mockResolvedValue('XXX-XXX-XXX')
   })
 
   afterAll(async () => {
diff --git a/test/form/cookies.test.js b/test/form/cookies.test.js
index 077a1b6cb..898b635a0 100644
--- a/test/form/cookies.test.js
+++ b/test/form/cookies.test.js
@@ -5,7 +5,10 @@ import { StatusCodes } from 'http-status-codes'
 
 import { FORM_PREFIX } from '~/src/server/constants.js'
 import { createServer } from '~/src/server/index.js'
-import { getFormMetadata } from '~/src/server/services/formsService.js'
+import {
+  generateReferenceNumber,
+  getFormMetadata
+} from '~/src/server/services/formsService.js'
 import * as fixtures from '~/test/fixtures/index.js'
 import { renderResponse } from '~/test/helpers/component-helpers.js'
 import { getCookieHeader } from '~/test/utils/get-cookie.js'
@@ -18,6 +21,7 @@ describe(`Cookie banner and analytics`, () => {
 
   beforeEach(() => {
     jest.mocked(getFormMetadata).mockResolvedValue(fixtures.form.metadata)
+    jest.mocked(generateReferenceNumber).mockResolvedValue('XXX-XXX-XXX')
   })
 
   afterEach(async () => {
diff --git a/test/form/phase-banner.test.js b/test/form/phase-banner.test.js
index 31750483b..bbee78db1 100644
--- a/test/form/phase-banner.test.js
+++ b/test/form/phase-banner.test.js
@@ -4,7 +4,10 @@ import { within } from '@testing-library/dom'
 
 import { FORM_PREFIX } from '~/src/server/constants.js'
 import { createServer } from '~/src/server/index.js'
-import { getFormMetadata } from '~/src/server/services/formsService.js'
+import {
+  generateReferenceNumber,
+  getFormMetadata
+} from '~/src/server/services/formsService.js'
 import * as fixtures from '~/test/fixtures/index.js'
 import { renderResponse } from '~/test/helpers/component-helpers.js'
 jest.mock('~/src/server/services/formsService.js')
@@ -19,6 +22,7 @@ describe(`Phase banner`, () => {
 
   beforeEach(() => {
     jest.mocked(getFormMetadata).mockResolvedValue(fixtures.form.metadata)
+    jest.mocked(generateReferenceNumber).mockResolvedValue('XXX-XXX-XXX')
   })
 
   test('shows the server phase tag by default', async () => {
diff --git a/test/form/user-feedback.test.js b/test/form/user-feedback.test.js
index f5172cc4d..f2a581908 100644
--- a/test/form/user-feedback.test.js
+++ b/test/form/user-feedback.test.js
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import { StatusCodes } from 'http-status-codes'
 import { FORM_PREFIX } from '~/src/server/constants.js'
 import { createServer } from '~/src/server/index.js'
 import {
+  generateReferenceNumber,
   getFormMetadata,
   getFormMetadataById
 } from '~/src/server/services/formsService.js'
@@ -105,6 +106,8 @@ describe('User feedback journey', () => {
   beforeAll(async () => {
     jest.mocked(getFormMetadataById).mockResolvedValue(metadata)
     jest.mocked(getFormMetadata).mockResolvedValue(metadata)
+    jest.mocked(generateReferenceNumber).mockResolvedValue('XXX-XXX-XXX')
+
     server = await createServer({
       formFileName: 'user-feedback-with-custom-controller.js',
       formFilePath: join(import.meta.dirname, 'definitions'),