The answer lives in this podcast
What are the three core service lines that Akerlof provides?
Akerlof operates three integrated service lines: ESG and social value to deliver positive impact for places and people; industrialized construction support using modern, innovative methods with enhanced productivity and safety; and commercial management backed by quantity surveying expertise to translate strategies into deliverable practice.
These three streams form the backbone of what Jamie Hillier and his co-founders built when they established Akerlof just before the pandemic in November 2019. Each service line addresses a distinct challenge facing the construction industry, yet they are deliberately stitched together to create a cohesive consulting approach.
A consultancy born from major contracting experience
Hillier came to founding Akerlof after nearly 20 years progressing through a tier one major contractor—from site QS to pre-construction director on major healthcare, custodial, and public social infrastructure projects. He partnered with John, who brought procurement expertise, and Ellie from the Construction Innovation Hub, who spearheaded social value work.
This combination of deep operational experience and thematic specialization shaped how the firm structures its offering. As Hillier explains in the episode, the three service lines reflect real stakeholder needs across the construction ecosystem—from public bodies seeking measurable social impact, to contractors wrestling with efficiency and modern methods, to clients and funders requiring transparent commercial management.
Why stakeholder perspective matters
Akerlof's approach borrows from Amazon's philosophy of the spare chair at the table—a seat reserved for the customer. Hillier and his team deliberately examine problems from multiple stakeholder angles, which directly informs the balance and integration of their three service streams.
Whether advising on ESG delivery, MMC industrialization, or commercial strategy, the consultancy maintains this stakeholder-centric lens, as detailed in this podcast conversation. That philosophy also shapes how the firm itself operates: it maintains a disciplined cash position, spending £20 optimizing current business for every £80 invested in thinking ahead about what the firm will become in the next five years.
"Take your work seriously, but yourself far less so. We have got massive productivity issues that if we do not fix, we're going to be in a real mess in five or 10 years."
Jamie Hillier — Co-founder and Partner, Akerlof. Hillier spent approximately 20 years at a tier one major contractor, progressing from site QS to pre-construction director for major projects in healthcare, custodial, and public social infrastructure. He co-founded Akerlof with John and Ellie in late 2019, building the firm into a boutique consultancy with sub-10 directly employed staff and an associate model scaling to about 20 people.
See also
What are the three core service lines offered by Accaloft?
Accaloft provides services around ESG and social value to help clients ensure positive impact for places and people they are developing; industrialized construction support and commercial management with QS expertise.
How did Dragonfly Projects approach the hiring process to attract a senior candidate from a major consultancy?
Freddie initially wrote an associate director job specification that read as though Dragonfly were a large corporate firm, but his wife pointed out this was inauthentic to their actual business culture.
What qualities does Freddie Edwards believe make a good construction project manager?
Freddie believes a good project manager must first win the trust of the client and understand their decision-making process before anything else can work.
Key takeaways
- Akerlof's three service lines—ESG, industrialized construction, and commercial management—are deliberately integrated to address real stakeholder needs across the construction industry.
- The firm was founded by partners with complementary expertise: Jamie Hillier from major contracting (pre-construction), John from procurement, and Ellie from the Construction Innovation Hub (social value).
- Hillier's approach emphasizes stakeholder-centric thinking, examining problems from multiple angles and ensuring construction outcomes serve places and people, not just balance sheets.
- Akerlof operates lean and disciplined, maintaining cash reserves and investing strategically in both current optimization and future business thinking.