Want to position your business as a top contender for major tenders and large-scale projects? The key to winning these opportunities is a well-crafted capability statement.

Read on to learn how a capability statement can become your golden ticket to standing out in the competitive tendering process.

What is a Capability Statement?

Think of your capability statement as a mix of a resume and a pitch for your business. Procurement managers will receive countless applications for a listed project, your capability statement is the perfect opportunity to stand out and showcase what your business does best.

A capability statement is a document that tells project decision-makers and potential clients why you’re the right choice for their project. It should highlight your services, unique skills and expertise, accreditations, and strengths as a business.

Most importantly, your capability statement should demonstrate to the procurement manager why your business is the best candidate for their project; it needs to resonate with their needs and project criteria.

In summary, a good capability statement is a powerful tool. It not only showcases your expertise and experience but also underlines your professionalism, helping you stand out when it matters most.

How to Write a Capability Statement

Writing a capability statement might seem daunting, especially for businesses without professional copywriters to assist them throughout this process.

The key to success is to frame your capability statement in a way that resonates with key project decision-makers and/or potential clients.

Our copywriting team recommend covering eight key areas throughout your capability statement:

An overview of your company (who you are and what you do).
Your purpose as a business.
Summary of your services related to the project.
Industries your business serves.
Accreditations, awards and expertise.
Health, safety and environmental commitments.
Case studies, testimonials or previous clients you have worked with.
Contact information, ABN and website details.

It’s also important to remember that there’s a time and a place for being humble; your capability statement is not one of them. This document is your opportunity to convince a procurement manager that your business is the best solution to their problem!

Additionally, your capability statement is a professional document, meaning there is no room for error when it comes to grammar, punctuation, and spelling. Make sure to proofread the document thoroughly before sending it to any project decision-makers.

Best Practices for Capability Statement Design

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and we could not agree more when it comes to the design of your capability statement.

It’s not just about providing information, it’s about doing so in a visually appealing way that aligns with your brand’s identity. For businesses, particularly those in fields like construction or infrastructure, the design of your capability statement can be the deciding factor in winning a tender or large project.

Think of your capability statement as an extension of your brand. It is, after all, one of the key documents representing your business! Make sure the document is consistent with your brand colours, logos, and fonts to highlight your professionalism as a business.

It’s also important to make sure the document is easy to follow. Break up text-heavy sections with relevant visuals such as images, graphs, or icons. These visual elements should complement your content, ensuring your capability statement is more engaging and easier to read.

Lastly, design your capability statement to be impactful at a glance. Procurement managers and project decision-makers are notoriously time-poor, juggling multiple suppliers and responsibilities. Ensuring your capability statement is easy to navigate and skim through will help your chances in appealing to busy procurement managers.

Should I Use a Template for My Capability Statement?

When it comes to crafting your capability statement, the decision to use a template or invest in professional design and copywriting is crucial. While templates offer a convenient starting point, investing in professional design and copywriting can give your business a significant edge.

The tendering process is often crowded and competitive, especially in sectors like construction and infrastructure. In these scenarios, every detail counts, and using a generic template may end up costing you the job.

By investing in a professional graphic designer and copywriter for your capability statement ensures you will stand out, and the document accurately reflects your business strengths, values, and unique selling points.

Capability Statement Examples

Now that we’ve covered the key elements of a capability statement, let’s see them in action. Take a glance at a few capability statements the IONYX Digital team have produced for our clients:

Capability Statement for Great Energy

Capability Statement for Spec Services

Capability Statement for EZ-SCAFF

How to Use Your Capability Statement to Win More Business

Whether you already have a capability statement, or are in the process of crafting one, let’s explore how you can secure more opportunities with it!

Firstly, when applying for any government projects or tenders, always include your capability statement. If your business has a wide range of services, you may want to consider creating multiple versions of your capability statement to ensure the document is aligned with the project’s specific needs and requirements.

On this note, it’s also recommended to update your capability statement at least once per year. This allows you to refresh your case studies, add new achievements, and ensure that the document accurately reflects your business’ current capabilities.

Leveraging social media to share your capability statement can also be highly beneficial, especially on LinkedIn where many procurement managers, project decision-makers and government officials are actively online and interacting with businesses. Regular posts about your services, successful projects, and client testimonials will also go a long way to keep your audience in engaged and informed about your expertise.

Your capability statement should also be readily available on your website, especially if your business is investing in social media or digital campaigns to get in front of project decision-makers. This will not only build credibility, but also provide a way to quickly communicate your business strengths to any prospect that visits your website.