Martin Phelps

Hello, my name is Martin Phelps and I am one of the Construction Industry Specialists at Cadline. I started my industrial career as a mechanical design engineer, designing one off special purpose equipment for all area of industry requiring material handling solutions. Clients included most major automotive producers, the MOD; this gave me my first exposure to AutoCAD in 1982.

About a year after starting to use AutoCAD I took on a part time associate lecturer's position at a local college teaching AutoCAD to part time mature students, hoping to gain a formal qualification in 2D or 3D draughting using AutoCAD, and CAD management, this was in addition to my normal day job.

After ten years of holding the position of projects engineer, I moved to a medium sized engineering company with a different remit to my previous employ. This meant taking on more of a managerial position, involving the day to day running of the design office and design of new products to break into new areas, also overseeing current projects. Installing AutoCAD was also one of my main priorities, in no time at all AutoCAD was proven to be and important addition to this company, with all new and existing projects being carried out on AutoCAD. The software was also proven to be a good tool for presenting proposals and schemes.

After four years changed role again, this time to a sales / design position, making initial contact, designing the solution and costing the required equipment. Unfortunately due to the economic situation at this time, an unexpected forced change was on its way.

Contract draughting proved to be a suitable transition between permanent positions, producing technical drawing for a variety of companies in a range of disciplines, working in engineering, civil, and architectural practices

After a couple of years of contract draughting a full time opportunity of CAD manager in a heavy engineering material handling company came my way, which I decided to accept. The role included setting up company CAD standards, procurement of the CAD computers and software (AutoCAD release 12), network hardware and server, plotter and cad management software, and of course day to day running of the design office.

Another change of career direction would lead me to become a full time AutoCAD software trainer working for an Autodesk reseller, training all aspects of AutoCAD, including 2D and 3D, AEC, (which later became AutoCAD Architecture), GTXrasterCAD, 3D Studio and 3D Studio MAX, Genius, and Administration for Windows NT.

After another couple of moves within the channel I arrived at Cadline, where I have now been an employee for nearly ten years initially training delegates in AutoCAD, 3D Studio Max, AutoCAD Architecture, MicroStation J, to V8i. My time spent teaching at college has also been a proving ground for my ability to moderate and mark formal exams to a consistent level, checked by an external moderator.

I now spend my time helping our customers increase their skill base by designing targeted training programmes and gaining industry relevant qualifications.