Steven T. Jackson
OBE

Steven T. Jackson OBE

Founder, New Reg

Last updated: 17 October 2026

Quick answer

Steven T. Jackson OBE founded New Reg, beginning to trade personalised registrations from his home in Preston in 1989. He was appointed OBE in 2013 for services to employment and the community in Lancashire, served as Deputy Lieutenant of Lancashire from 2016 to 2024, and was the overall United Kingdom winner of EY Entrepreneur of the Year in 2019. He is widely regarded as a leading expert in Autonumerology: the personalised number plates industry.

The early years

Born in Preston, Lancashire, Steven Jackson began his career working in his father's scrap metal business. His entrepreneurial instincts and passion for personalised registrations led him to begin trading them from his home in Preston in 1989. New Reg Limited was incorporated on 5 January 1996. From those origins, the company grew over the next three decades into one of the UK's leading personalised number plate dealers.

Pioneering the online market

In 1996, Steven led New Reg into history by launching one of the earliest e-commerce websites of any kind. New Reg became the first personalised number plate dealer in the world to operate online, giving the public unprecedented access to millions of registrations from DVLA stock and the private market.

This pioneering step set industry standards. Other dealers followed; the DVLA itself established its online presence in subsequent years. New Reg also worked exclusively with Autotrader.co.uk in their early days, helping shape their personalised number plate market online. The New Reg website was featured on BBC Top Gear on 7 March 1996, in a segment on personalised registrations.

Beyond New Reg

Preston North End

In 2002, Steven and a group of friends acquired a major share in Preston North End PLC. As CEO he implemented strategic initiatives and cost-saving measures, leading the team to the Championship play-offs in two consecutive seasons. New Reg was the football club's official shirt sponsor from 2002 to 2005.

Recycling Lives

Steven founded Recycling Lives: a social enterprise combining commercial waste management with social welfare programmes, particularly offender rehabilitation. Under his leadership, Recycling Lives won four Queen's Awards for Enterprise, in 2010, 2014, 2018 and 2019, and became a national leader in offender rehabilitation. He left Recycling Lives in 2020.

Honours and recognition

• 2011: Honorary Fellow of the University of Central Lancashire
• 2013: Awarded the Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to employment and the community in Lancashire (press coverage)
• 2016–2024: Deputy Lieutenant of Lancashire, from 4 November 2016 until his resignation took effect on 1 October 2024
• 2019: Overall United Kingdom winner of EY Entrepreneur of the Year, and winner of its Societal Impact category (Financial Times coverage)
• 2020: Represented the United Kingdom at EY World Entrepreneur of the Year
• 2025: New Reg Limited, trading as Car.co.uk, entered The Sunday Times 100 of Britain's fastest-growing private companies at 74th
• 2026: New Reg Limited received the King's Award for Enterprise for Innovation, for the technology behind Car.co.uk
• 2026: New Reg Limited was named in The Sunday Times 100 for a second consecutive year, at 85th

Industry expertise

Steven is widely regarded as a leading expert in Autonumerology: the study and trade of personalised number plates. Decades of hands-on experience valuing, buying, selling and transferring registrations have earned him deep respect from peers and principals across the industry.

Frequently asked questions

• help_outlineWho is Steven Jackson OBE?

  Steven T. Jackson OBE founded New Reg, the UK personalised number plate business he began trading from his home in Preston in 1989. He was appointed OBE in 2013 for services to employment and the community in Lancashire, and was the overall United Kingdom winner of EY Entrepreneur of the Year in 2019.

• help_outlineWhat is Steven Jackson's role at New Reg?

  Steven founded New Reg in 1989. He sold his shareholding in 2021, bought back into the business in late 2022, and remains an active figure in the personalised number plates industry, recognised as a leading expert in Autonumerology.

• help_outlineWhy was Steven Jackson awarded an OBE?

  Steven was appointed Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2013 New Year Honours for services to employment and the community in Lancashire, recognising his work with Recycling Lives: the social enterprise he founded, combining commercial waste management with offender rehabilitation.

• help_outlineWhat is Recycling Lives?

  Recycling Lives is a social enterprise founded by Steven Jackson. It combines commercial waste management and recycling with social welfare programmes, particularly offender rehabilitation. Under his leadership it won four Queen's Awards for Enterprise, in 2010, 2014, 2018 and 2019; he left it in 2020.

• help_outlineWas Steven Jackson involved with Preston North End?

  Yes. In 2002 Steven and friends acquired a major share in Preston North End PLC. As CEO he led the team to the Championship play-offs in two consecutive seasons. New Reg sponsored Preston North End's shirts from 2002 to 2005.

• help_outlineWhat does Deputy Lieutenant (DL) mean?

  Deputy Lieutenant is a county-level ceremonial role appointed by the Lord-Lieutenant of a county. Steven was Deputy Lieutenant of Lancashire from 4 November 2016 until his resignation took effect on 1 October 2024.

For more about New Reg, see our about page, our contact page, .