Balfour Beatty today announces a £7.2 million investment in Microsoft 365 Copilot — one of the largest AI investments of its kind in the UK construction and infrastructure industry.
Unlike publicly available tools, the AI-powered assistant embedded within Microsoft 365 applications will operate securely within Balfour Beatty’s compliant and confidential IT environment. Supporting the Group’s workforce across the UK, the investment is set to enhance productivity across the industry and enable smarter, faster, safer outcomes across hundreds of Balfour Beatty’s projects and sites nationwide.
With the McKinsey Global Institute citing a 14–15% productivity uplift in infrastructure and construction through technology adoption, Microsoft 365 Copilot has the potential to help close the industry’s stubborn and well-documented productivity gap.
Balfour Beatty is also partnering with Microsoft to develop AI-powered “smart agents” to improve Quality, Health & Safety and Assurance processes. These agents will integrate data to provide actionable insights for on-site decision-making.
The first trial is on the A9 Dualling: Tomatin to Moy project in Scotland, focusing on early-stage reviews of Inspection and Test Plans (ITPs). The “smart agent” identifies common issues such as using incorrect or outdated templates reaching technical experts, enhancing the consistency, efficiency, and quality of ITPs.
Automating the manual review process, which traditionally takes several hours and is repeated thousands of times across the company, accelerates delivery and allows engineers to focus on high-value tasks such as design assurance and technical problem-solving - ultimately boosting productivity.
Leo Quinn, Balfour Beatty Group Chief Executive, said: “This investment demonstrates our commitment to harnessing the full potential of digital innovation to drive productivity and support our people. Expanding access to Copilot is the natural next step in our digital transformation, empowering our teams with intuitive, AI-driven tools that streamline workflows, reduce repetitive tasks, and free up time for high-value work.”
Jon Ozanne, Chief Information Officer for Balfour Beatty, added: “This investment isn’t just about embracing technology. It’s about ensuring our business remains at the forefront of competitiveness and cyber security. Our decision to collaborate with Microsoft underscores Balfour Beatty’s determination to tackle the industry’s productivity gap, drive sustainable outcomes and enhance safety.”
Darren Hardman, CEO, Microsoft UK & Ireland, said: “Balfour Beatty’s investment in Microsoft 365 Copilot is another sign of the confidence businesses have in AI's potential to deliver tangible productivity gains. By integrating Copilot into daily workflows, Balfour Beatty is empowering teams to work smarter, faster, and more safely. Our collaboration is a strong example of how AI is already having a measurable impact in the construction sector.”
To hear more from Balfour Beatty’s Chief Information Officer, click here.
The investment in Microsoft 365 Copilot forms part of Balfour Beatty’s broader digital transformation strategy. Continuous, data-led improvement ensures that it is future-ready, harnessing the latest technology including augmented and virtual reality, biometrics, telematics and digital permitting.
ENDS
Notes to editors:
• Balfour Beatty is a leading international infrastructure group with over 27,000 employees driving the delivery of powerful new solutions, shaping thinking, creating skylines and inspiring a new generation of talent to be the change-makers of tomorrow.
• We finance, develop, build, maintain and operate the increasingly complex and critical infrastructure that supports national economies and deliver projects at the heart of local communities.
• Over the last 116 years we have created iconic buildings and infrastructure all over the world. Currently, we are working to deliver Hinkley Point C, the first UK nuclear power station in a generation; constructing the world-class arts and cultural facility, the Lyric Theatre, in Hong Kong; and designing, building, financing, operating and maintaining the Automated People Mover superstructure at the fifth busiest airport in the world, Los Angeles International Airport.
• Balfour Beatty’s £7.2 million investment in Microsoft 365 Copilot is a four-year commitment taking the partnership with Microsoft up until at least 2029.
