Strategic marketing so built environment firms know who they are and how to win the right work
Strategic marketing and business development for architecture, engineering
and construction.
Frameworks that used to deliver are running their course. Procurement is changing, there’s more competition. And in truth, the phone isn't ringing with referrals the way it used to.
Most firms respond by doing more. More posts, more events, more awards entries. What actually shifts things is getting clear on where you want to compete and why anyone should pick you.
That's the work I do.
About.
I'm Ayo Abbas, founder of Abbas Marketing. I've spent 25 years in and around the built environment, in-house and independently.
Since 2020 I've worked with five of the top ten UK engineering consultancies, alongside growing practices, mid-sized firms and specialist consultants. My clients have doubled revenue, entered new markets and won work on some of the UK's most significant projects.
I understand how these firms operate, how decisions get made, and where marketing tends to go wrong. Most usefully, I know how to mesh strategy with the practicalities of actually getting it done.
Based in South West London, working with firms across the UK and internationally. Learn more about me.
What I do.
Marketing
strategy.
Getting clear on how you compete and what you're known for. I work with leadership teams to build positioning that moves you from chasing work to attracting it.
Thought leadership.
Turning your firm's expertise into visibility that reaches the right people. From content strategy through to execution, helping you become the voice your clients want to hear from.
Training and masterclasses.
Practical, sector-specific training for marketing teams and built environment professionals. In person, online, and in formats that work across time zones.
Advisory and speaking.
Strategic counsel when big decisions need marketing expertise at board level. And if you want a speaker who knows the sector and tells it straight, I speak at conferences, away days and industry events globally.
Who for.
What this looks like in practice.
Growth.
A global project and programme management consultancy grew from £31m to £61m turnover in three years.
I led marketing for the division throughout.
Business Development.
Supported business leaders on positioning and bids across a major London regeneration area, contributing to over £2bn of project work won.
Repositioning.
Worked with a mid-sized architecture practice to sharpen their messaging for target clients and specific sectors, in response to a market slowdown.
Training.
Worked with a global senior leadership team on how they communicate and influence, so their messaging cuts through and lands.
Built environment marketing leaders podcast.
Six years, 100+ episodes and over 25,000 downloads. I produce and host the podcast to share how firms in this sector actually market themselves, and what works. Guests have included FCB Studios, Make Architects, Hoare Lea, Mace, Arup and Perkins&Will.
As seen in.
Thoughts.
Latest news.
Speaking at CopyCon 2026
Chuffed to share, I’m running a 70 minute workshop at CopyCon 2026 this November. My workshop is titled “Your Content MOT: Fine tuning from good to great.
It's a practical session on spotting the difference between content that blends in and content that actually wins work, using my four-part MOT framework (Roadworthy, Steering, Fuel, Verdict), then applying it live to real writing.
Thursday 5 November, 09:45, online. You'll leave with a repeatable checklist and one thing to change straight away. Find out more about CopyCon 2026
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