And more so when you have just been dazzled by oncoming traffic. Now an answer to this age old driving hazard could be in the offing in Fife, Scotland. Sign Plus of Dalgety Bay have come up with a new roadside marker currently being trialled by the local council under their Supplier Development Programme.

The new Flexstake markers are high-impact, traffic resistant posts, signs and markers which can take up to 100 traffic impacts at 55 miles per hour without damage.  The markers are made of colourful polycarbonate with an anchor device which keeps them safely in the ground whatever the soil conditions are.

The pilot scheme came about following a pitch from Sign Plus, whose staff had attended Supplier Development Programme (SDP) workshops on procurement in the public sector organised by Fife Council’s Economic Development team. 

Jennifer Breingan from Sign Plus registered for the SDP programme last summer and attended a couple of events about working with the public sector. A procurement surgery and product demonstration was then held in the autumn for Sign Plus to show their Flexstake markers to representatives from Fife Council’s Corporate Procurement and Transportation services.

Jennifer says, “I doubt we would have approached the Council to pitch our products without the knowledge we gained at the SDP events. It was really useful to learn how a tender process works and how to add value to bids. And it was all free of charge!”

If the signs are a success then it could mean the signs will be needed across the Scottish district. Fife Council's Supplier Development Programme aims to raise awareness of the opportunities for small and medium sized companies, and to help them tender for local council work.
Sign Plus offer a range of services and employs around 50 people.

Does your council run a Supplier Development Programme? Your views please to online_ed@signlink.co.uk