Work anytime, anywhere with a fully managed cloud hosted solution that will transform your business. In the ever-evolving landscape of construction management, staying ahead means embracing innovation and technology. We’ve been committed to developing construc.....
How to, Construction, Business - 4 min read
Head of Sales and Marketing
Oct 21, 2016 6:27:00 AM
Winning a construction tender can be difficult in today’s strong and competitive market.
The best way to attack this problem is to write a cover letter that differentiates you from the crowd, and explains why you’re better than the rest. Some businesses don’t even take the time to include a cover letter, so making the extra effort will give you a valuable advantage.
Below we outline simple ways you can write a winning cover letter for your next construction tender application.
The cover letter is your opportunity to lead the discussion. It allows the reader to feel familiar with who you are what you plan to do, building a strong personal rapport with your business. When it comes to their time of decision, you want to be front of mind.
Put simply, the cover lever lets you explain why your business is the best choice for the job, leaving the guesswork out of it.
There are four important things to remember about your construction cover letter:
1. Put it after your title page – This gives you a chance to persuade the reader before they even get into the meat of your tender. And ensure it has your company logo or letterhead on it. This will send the message that you approach every task professionally.
2. It should only be one page in length – Very few people like to read over long documents, and fewer still have the time for it. Say what you need to and say it quick. They’ll thank you for it.
3. Address it to the right person – Too often the cover letter is addressed to the wrong person (and in some cases, the wrong company). This sends all the wrong messages, and will limit your chances of being chosen, even if your tender is actually the pick of the bunch. Often there is a specific contact for the job, so use their name and title. If in doubt, address it to the most senior person.
4. It should be signed – Ensure your cover letter is signed by a senior member of your business, ideally at a similar status to the person who it’s addressed to.
There are five parts to your successful tender cover letter, two of which may be optional:
1. Introduction (mandatory) – This is a short sentence where you say something along the lines of “thank you for inviting our business to tender.”
2. Win theme (mandatory) – This is the simple and specific reason why you should be given the job. It can stretch to a few bullet points, but try to keep it short and direct, supporting what’s in your tender.
3. Administrative note (optional) – Sometimes it may be necessary to describe how your tender is structured and what is included. For example, if you also have a DVD as an extra, tell them.
4. Commitment (mandatory) – This is a statement about why you are committed to success of the project. You may also like to include details of other projects you’ve completed.
5. Contact (optional) – These are the details (name, position, telephone and email) of the appropriate contact person in your company and the best way to reach them. This will help build a relationship between the two firms and give the reader an idea of who they’ll be dealing with should you be successful.
The cover letter is an important part of the tender process. Use these helpful tips in practice and you’ll be well on your way to a winning tender.
For more guidance on how to improve your tender submissions, including a tender response checklist, enrol in our popular Building a Better Trade Business eCourse today.
We understand estimating can be complex and tiring. We're here to make it much easier.
Get your 14-day free trial of Cubit the natural estimating solution.
