June Spotlight: AEC meets AI

Welcome to the June edition of Blakely Brown Insights!

Your monthly roundup of industry trends, team news, and exciting updates from across our global offices. As we hit the halfway mark of 2025, it's a great moment to reflect on what’s been achieved and to look ahead to what’s next.

This month, our UK team swapped city skylines for the sunny shores of the south of France, we take a deep dive into how the AEC industry is grappling with the fast-moving AI revolution, and we’re still on the lookout for exceptional talent to join our growing Miami team.

Here’s to a strong second half of the year. Thanks for being part of the journey.

Thanks for reading,

The Blakely Brown Team

Team Building: Sun, Strategy & Shared Wins

To celebrate an outstanding first half of 2025, our UK team took some well-deserved time out for a team-building retreat in the iconic coastal city of Cannes, France. Between sun-soaked afternoons and strategy sessions, the trip offered a chance to recharge, reconnect, and plan for the months ahead.

These moments are more than just a break, they’re a reflection of who we are. At Blakely Brown, we live by the principle “We All Win”. It’s not just a motto, it’s embedded in our culture. While we value individual excellence and drive, we believe success is amplified when it’s shared. We support each other, challenge each other, and celebrate the wins together.

If you're looking for more than just a job, if you want to be part of a high-performing team that invests in both people and performance, we’d love to hear from you: antonia@blakelybrowngroup.com 

Survey Finds Most AEC Firms Aren't Quite Prepared for AI Revolution

A recent survey by BST Global has revealed a striking paradox in the AEC industry’s approach to artificial intelligence: enthusiastic expectations, but lukewarm readiness.

BST Global’s recent AI Summit underscored the transformative potential of artificial intelligence within the AEC industry while revealing a significant readiness gap. Though 75% of surveyed firms believe AI will boost profitability and 82% anticipate a major AI-driven transformation within five years, only 20% feel “highly prepared” to implement AI meaningfully. The BST Global survey, conducted with ACEC’s technology committee and major AEC players like AECOM and Gensler, found that most firms are still in early pilot or exploratory phases. Key barriers to adoption include proving business value and identifying impactful use cases, alongside employee apprehension and lack of AI literacy.

Industry leaders like Javier Baldor of BST and Nasrine Tomasi of Mott MacDonald emphasize that transformation won’t just be about tools, it will require shifts in mindset, business models, and workforce strategy. Baldor advocates for moving away from outdated time-and-materials billing toward value-based models to fully realize AI’s potential. Meanwhile, firms like Arcadis are embracing "citizen development" to upskill employees in AI and digital solution-building, aiming to certify thousands of staff members to ensure long-term transformation success.

What does this mean for the AEC Industry?

• Act Now on Upskilling: The workforce must be AI-literate. Strategic investments in training and internal "citizen development" are essential to prepare for AI integration.

• Rethink the Business Model: The time-and-materials billing model is likely to become obsolete. Value-driven or gain-share models will be key to capitalizing on AI’s efficiency gains.

• Embrace Long-Term Change: AI adoption isn’t plug-and-play, it demands cultural change, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and strong leadership.

• Start Small, Think Big: Firms in early stages should focus on identifying AI use cases with clear business value and scale from there.

What does this mean for AEC Industry Recruiters?

• New Skill Sets Are Emerging: Demand is rising for AI-literate professionals across roles,from cost managers to project leads. Recruiting strategies should reflect this shift.

• Promote the Upskilling Narrative: Highlighting employers who invest in AI training and transformation can be a compelling draw for top candidates.

• Opportunity to Guide Clients: Many AEC firms are behind the curve, recruiters can act as consultative partners, helping firms identify and hire forward-thinking talent aligned with digital transformation goals.

• Highlight Change-Ready Talent: Candidates with experience navigating digital change, AI tool implementation, or new delivery models will be increasingly valuable to firms striving to stay competitive.

Miami Hiring 

Our Miami office is growing fast! With our Co-Founder Jacob heading across the Atlantic later this summer, we’re ramping up hiring for our U.S. team.

If you're in Executive Search and looking to join a dynamic, high-performing team with big ambitions and global reach, we’d love to connect.

📧 Get in touch today at antonia@blakelybrowngroup.com