Offshore structural and CAD drafting is a form of engineering process outsourcing in which detailed drawings, structural drafting and CAD models are produced by a team in another country under the direction of the lead engineering firm. For UK consultancies and contractors, it converts drafting into a flexible, lower-cost resource while design authority stays in-house. Kenya has become a credible base for this work on the back of a growing engineering graduate pool, English-medium training, and hours that overlap the UK day. Here the term offshore is used in its neutral technical sense — work performed from another location. This guide covers the talent, costs, workflow and data rules.
Key Facts
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Service | Engineering process outsourcing (CAD, structural drafting) |
| Engineering graduates 2024 | 7,023 per year |
| ICT graduates | 10,000+ per year |
| Official language | English (Constitution Article 7) |
| EF EPI 2025 rank | 19th globally (High band) |
| Kenya BPO hourly | USD 7-15 |
| Nearshore hourly | USD 20-30 |
| Onshore UK/US hourly | USD 40-60+ |
| Time zone | GMT+3 (EAT), no daylight saving |
| UK overlap | 5-6 hours |
| Workforce under 35 | 87% |
Key terms
- Engineering process outsourcing (EPO)
- The delegation of engineering tasks such as CAD modelling, structural drafting and detailing to an external team, with design authority retained by the lead firm.
- CAD drafting
- The production of detailed technical drawings and models using computer-aided design software, supporting design, fabrication and construction.
What offshore drafting covers
Answer: Offshore drafting delivers detailed drawings, structural drafting, CAD models and detailing, with the UK firm retaining design authority and sign-off.
The work is the production layer beneath the design decision: a drafter turns the engineer’s intent into precise drawings, structural details and CAD models ready for review. The lead UK firm sets the brief, checks the output and signs off; the offshore team handles the drafting volume. This is the engineering counterpart to the support models used in finance outsourcing and legal process outsourcing, applied to technical drawings rather than documents.
Kenya’s engineering talent pool
Answer: Kenya produced 7,023 engineering graduates in 2024, supplying the base for CAD and structural drafting, alongside more than 10,000 ICT graduates a year.
The pipeline supports the work. In 2024, 7,023 engineering graduates entered the workforce, and Kenya also produces more than 10,000 ICT graduates a year, giving drafters strong software fluency. English is an official language under Article 7 of the Constitution, and Kenya ranked 19th in the EF English Proficiency Index 2025, so technical communication is clear. With 87% of the workforce under 35, the talent base is young and growing — part of the wider Kenya talent hub and digital economy story.
What it costs
Answer: Kenya BPO work is commonly billed at roughly USD 7-15 an hour, against USD 20-30 nearshore and USD 40-60+ onshore in the UK.
| Basis | Hourly rate |
|---|---|
| Kenya (offshore) | USD 7-15 |
| Nearshore | USD 20-30 |
| Onshore UK/US | USD 40-60+ |
The gap against onshore drafting rates is large, making offshore drafting an effective way to manage variable workloads and project peaks. For wider benchmarks see the Kenya outsourcing rates and costs overview guides.
Workflow, timing and data
Answer: A 5-6 hour UK overlap supports same-day revisions, while design files are transferred under the UK IDTA where personal data is involved.
Kenya runs on GMT+3 with no daylight saving, so its day overlaps the UK by 5-6 hours — enough to manage design queries, revisions and handovers within the same working day. Where drawings or project files contain personal data, Kenya’s GDPR-aligned Data Protection Act 2019 applies, and UK transfers should rely on the UK IDTA plus a Transfer Risk Assessment. Firms running a standing drafting team should also consider permanent establishment risk.
Key Takeaways
- Offshore structural and CAD drafting delivers drawings and models while UK firms keep design authority.
- Kenya produced 7,023 engineering graduates in 2024, plus 10,000+ ICT graduates, supplying drafting talent.
- Kenya BPO work runs at roughly USD 7-15 an hour, against USD 20-30 nearshore and USD 40-60+ onshore.
- A 5-6 hour UK overlap supports same-day revisions; design files transfer under the UK IDTA where needed.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is structural and CAD drafting outsourcing?
Structural and CAD drafting outsourcing is a form of engineering process outsourcing in which detailed drawings, structural drafting and CAD models are produced by an offshore team under the direction of the lead engineering firm.
Does Kenya have engineering drafting talent?
Yes. Kenya produced 7,023 engineering graduates in 2024, supplying the talent base for engineering process outsourcing such as CAD and structural drafting, supported by English-medium training and a young workforce.
How much does offshore drafting in Kenya cost?
Kenya BPO work is commonly billed at roughly USD 7-15 per hour, against USD 20-30 nearshore and USD 40-60 or more onshore in the UK, so offshore drafting in Kenya offers a substantial cost saving.
Does the time zone suit UK engineering firms?
Yes. Kenya runs on GMT+3 with no daylight saving, overlapping the UK working day by 5-6 hours, so design queries, revisions and handovers can be managed within the same business day.
Sources & References
- Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), “Economic Survey 2025,” accessed 2026-06-13. https://www.knbs.or.ke/
- EF Education First, “EF English Proficiency Index 2025,” accessed 2026-06-13. https://www.ef.com/epi/
- Workmate, “Global Outsourcing Rates by Country 2025,” accessed 2026-06-13. https://www.workmatepro.com/global-outsourcing-rates-by-country-2025/
- UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), “International transfers,” accessed 2026-06-13. https://ico.org.uk/for-organisations/uk-gdpr-guidance-and-resources/international-transfers/
Published by Outsourcing.ke.
Further Reading
- Kenya Talent Hub — the wider talent pool
- Kenya Digital Economy — Kenya’s technology base
- Kenya Outsourcing Rates — role-by-role benchmarks
- Employer of Record Kenya — EOR services for UK companies expanding to Kenya