London-based Elyos AI raised a $13m Series A round in January to develop AI agents automating admin tasks for trades businesses. The startup, founded by Phillipa Brown—a former OVO Energy ops head and electrician—works with fire safety firm Amax Fire, gas company GasCare, and property service James Frew. Elyos targets reducing manual admin work in field services, automating out-of-hours customer service, scheduling, and sales.

European construction tech startups have raised €297m so far this year, with investment projected to hit €850m by year’s end—a 140% jump from €354m in 2025. Yet only 12% of global trade companies use AI, per a Royal Institution of Chartered Survey 2025 report. Brown argues the trades sector is often overlooked, despite workers wanting to focus on field work. She says Elyos builds AI tools specifically for tradespeople, noting quick adoption by plumbers and electricians.

The AI workforce boom has focused on white-collar roles, but Elyos aims to shift that—believing AI will free trades workers to upskill and grow their businesses. The startup’s AI sales executive manages leads, field engineer assistant handles job notes, and customer rep integrations are already in use. Brown warns that broader AI adoption in trades is slower due to cultural change and training needs, despite seeing quick uptake from trades workers themselves.

Over the next five to ten years, Elyos plans to see AI fully implemented across trades admin tasks, from customer contact to payroll. Brown sees the sector becoming a safe space for young people to upskill, with AI handling office work while humans focus on core trades.