Earlier this year a poll was conducted to find out what the greatest advance in construction has been. Construction News announced that their readers had voted computer aided design (CAD) and computer aided manufacture (CAM) as being the number one advances in the industry.

The value of theses computer innovations cannot be underestimated as grand designs across the country have benefited from CAD and CAM. Three-dimensional (3D) design software is so popular in designing glamorous bridges, roofs, stadia, tall buildings especially in London in the run up to the 2012 Olympic Games.

In fact many relatively new structures in the capital have already benefited from the technology. While the likes of the Gherkin at St Mary Axe and the roof of Arsenal Football Club’s Emirates Stadium in London could have been made without CAD, the process was quicker and the potential for errors lessened.

This is why many of the draughtsman jobs advertised these days seek potential employees with these skills. CAD is also valued in the fight for sustainability as greater accuracy means there is much less waste of materials.

Having these computer skills is an important string to the bow and highly recommended. Starting out in CAD draughtsman jobs often requires a mixture of training on the job, with some aspects learnt on day or block release study at a local college. This should lead to a minimum of NVQ / SVQ level 3 followed by studying for a BTEC NC / D or SQA NC group award or City and Guilds Certificate or vocational A level / GSVQ level III.