What 2026 holds for the road-marking sector: RSMA Conference insights

 

The RSMA Annual Conference & Dinner took place on 5 February – a milestone year marking the association’s 50th anniversary.

As one of the most significant fixtures in the road‑marking calendar, it’s a great opportunity to bring together National Highways, contractors, manufacturers, training bodies, and Re-flow – the sector’s technology partner – to examine developments and priorities for the year ahead.

Industry themes from the conference programme

This year’s programme covered workforce capacity, safety innovation, connected‑vehicle technology, health and wellbeing, and compliance.

Health, safety, and wellbeing

National Highways’ Melanie Clarke, joined by Andrew Cox (FM Conway), spoke about the Home Safe & Well approach – a framework emphasising shared responsibility across the supply chain and embedding safety‑by‑design into day‑to‑day delivery – reflecting National Highways’ long‑term commitment to reducing harm across the network.

Technology and innovation in safety

Several speakers looked at road‑marking innovation past, present, and future:

·       Clearview Intelligence explained how newer road‑stud systems – including solar‑powered, sensor‑detectable markings – improve visibility for drivers and vehicle sensors.

·       HAAS Alert presented their digital alerts that warn motorists about roadside works, building on UK use with WJ Group.

·       The Road Safety Foundation pressed for proactive, data‑led risk management to cut casualties.

·       The DfT set out work on connected‑vehicle data and digital services so the network is ready for new mobility.

Compliance and employment‑law updates

Following a period of significant legislative change, Emma McGrath (Citation) provided an update on new employment‑law requirements:

• April 2026 reforms include day‑one rights for parental and paternity leave, and a reworked Statutory Sick Pay system that removes the Lower Earnings Limit and makes SSP payable from day one.

• A new Fair Work Agency is due in 2026, consolidating enforcement and carrying penalties of up to 200% for National Minimal Wage, Statutory Sick Pay, and holiday‑pay underpayments.

• October 2026 will strengthen duties to prevent workplace and third‑party harassment.

• Proposed 2027 changes include day‑one unfair dismissal and new rules for zero‑hours contracts, such as guaranteed‑hours offers and reasonable‑notice requirements for shift changes.

These updates will roll out over 18–24 months, requiring contractors to keep policies and processes up to date as each phase comes into force.

Conversations from the floor

Alongside the expert speakers, the event provided valuable opportunities for discussion across the supply chain. Members of the Re‑flow team met representatives from established contractor clients, emerging SMEs, and new entrants to the RSMA community.

Re‑flow also welcomed Markon as a new signee and held constructive conversations with companies considering digital transformation, including those still weighing up the transition from manual, paper‑driven workflows.

These organisations were particularly interested in the operational controls and configurability available in sector‑specific operations software, designed around road‑marking workflows.

Re‑flow will continue to work closely with RSMA members, supporting the drive towards safer operations and smarter workflows across the entire highways sector.