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Research & analysis

A portable Capability Evidence Record for fragmented support

Businesses should not restart every diagnostic from zero, and buyers should not receive an unstructured document dump.

2026-08-208 minutesEvidence-led analysis

Supplier support often creates valuable fragments: an adviser report, policy, action plan, course certificate, process map or pilot record. The next programme may not see them. The next buyer receives either too little evidence or an uncontrolled folder containing outdated material.

What the record contains

A Capability Evidence Record is an index, not a public data room. Each entry should show:

  • capability or requirement;
  • current status;
  • named owner;
  • evidence location and date;
  • who created or reviewed it;
  • scope and limitation;
  • next review date;
  • improvement action; and
  • sharing classification.

What it prevents

  • Using an expired certificate or insurance schedule.
  • Presenting another legal entity's experience without attribution.
  • Assuming a template is implemented.
  • Uploading confidential or personal material unnecessarily.
  • Repeating the same diagnostic without checking previous action.

Participant ownership

The organisation should retain and control the record. Market Accord can help structure and challenge it, but participation should not trap evidence inside a proprietary platform. Selective sharing is important: a buyer needs relevant, proportionate evidence, not unrestricted access to internal records.

The record also makes limitations visible. “In development”, “pilot evidence only” and “not independently certified” are useful statuses when they are clear and current.

Sources and scrutiny

Sources used in this analysis

These sources support the factual context. Market Accord's interpretation is identified separately and should be read with its stated limitations.

  • Backing your business: evidence annex Department for Business and Trade · 2026-01-09 · policy evidence Open source
  • Guidance: Covered Procurement Objectives Cabinet Office · 2026-04-01 · official procurement guidance Open source

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