GEFIE 1 - AI Accelerator Day: Antea Group

Client: Antea Group

Event: GEFIE 1 – AI Accelerator Day

Industry: Engineering and Environmental Consulting

Date: 24 February 2026

Consultant: Rufus Curnow, Lakshya Yadav

Advancing AI Literacy in Engineering and Environmental Consultancy

Antea Group partnered with Dixon AI in Leeds to deliver a GEFIE 1 AI Accelerator Day focused on building practical AI literacy across their engineering and environmental consulting teams. The session introduced the foundations of generative AI, explored how different model types function, and clarified what bots and agents can realistically achieve in a professional services context. As part of Stage 3, Organisational AI Literacy, within the AI Transformation Playbook , the day established a shared understanding of AI capability and strengthened confidence in applying these tools responsibly.

Business Context

Antea Group operates in a sector where precision, regulatory awareness and technical depth are critical. As AI tools become more accessible, the leadership team recognised the need to ensure their people understand not just how to use these systems, but when and why to use them. The session formed part of the organisation’s progression through Stage 3 of the AI Transformation Playbook , building a common language and practical literacy before moving into structured experimentation.

Objectives of the Event

• Build foundational understanding of how generative AI works

• Differentiate between model types and use cases

• Develop practical prompting techniques

• Explore the capabilities and limitations of bots and agents

• Encourage critical thinking around risk, ethics and appropriate application

What Happened During the Event

The workshop was delivered as a hands-on, discussion-led session. Participants worked through how large language models generate responses, examined the differences between generative and retrieval approaches, and tested prompting techniques in real time.

As the day progressed, the quality of discussion deepened. Early questions focused on functionality. Later conversations examined suitability, risk boundaries and ethical responsibility within engineering and environmental advisory work. Participants began connecting the technical concepts to their own roles, whether in project delivery, reporting, stakeholder communication or internal knowledge management.

By the afternoon, use cases that initially felt abstract had become tangible. Individuals were articulating how AI could support proposal drafting, summarising complex documentation, structuring environmental reports or accelerating internal research tasks. Importantly, these discussions remained grounded in professional standards and regulatory considerations. Curiosity was matched with caution, which is a strong indicator of healthy AI literacy.

Key Insights

Several broader themes emerged from the session. First, AI literacy is not simply about tool usage. It is about informed decision-making. When teams understand how models function, they are better equipped to judge output quality and assess risk.

Second, confidence grows through structured exposure. As understanding increases, hesitation reduces and application becomes more considered. Watching this shift in real time is often the most valuable part of the Accelerator Day.

Third, critical thinking is the differentiator. In regulated sectors such as engineering and environmental consultancy, the ability to question outputs, validate sources and apply professional judgement remains essential. AI can support execution, but human judgement remains central. This aligns closely with the Purpose – Execution – Judgement principles set out in the AI Transformation Playbook .

Impact

As a direct result of the day, Antea Group strengthened its internal AI vocabulary and created a shared baseline of understanding across teams. Conversations about AI can now move beyond novelty and into structured evaluation. Participants left with greater clarity on where AI may add value and where human oversight must remain firmly in place.

What Happens Next

The logical next step within the AI Transformation Playbook would be to translate this literacy into structured experimentation through GEFIE 2, enabling teams to apply their understanding to defined workflows and measurable outcomes. With the foundations now in place, the organisation is positioned to explore value creation in a controlled and collaborative manner.

Closing Insight

AI adoption in engineering and environmental consulting must be thoughtful, measured and professionally grounded. Building literacy first ensures that experimentation rests on understanding rather than assumption.

To learn more about the GEFIE 1 AI Accelerator Day and how it supports organisational AI literacy, visit:https://www.dixonai.com/transformation/gefie1-ai-accelerator-day

Organisational AI literacy is the first practical step towards sustainable AI transformation and applied AI training.