Find out how our innovations have shaped the market, dating all the way back to 1894 and always in the fair city of Sheffield.
Jepson & Co’s story begins in 1894, when George Henry Jepson, our chairman Peter Jepson's great grandfather, founded the business as a "man and a can" in Sheffield. His craftsmanship laid the groundwork for what would become one of the UK’s most enduring signage and plate manufacturers, starting out in the centre of our fine city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.
With thanks to picturesheffield for the photo!
By 1903, the Motor Car Act required vehicles to display registration marks. While many were still figuring out how to comply, Jepson & Co was already producing hand-painted registration numbers onto bumpers, and later onto plates, adapting its signwriting expertise to meet the new legal demand. This early responsiveness set a precedent: we didn’t wait for the industry to move, we innovated to meet market need.
By the 1910s, as industrial vehicles such as traction engines and agricultural vehicles became more common, Jepson & Co drew on Sheffield’s world-class metalworking heritage to support the development of cast aluminium number plates. Anyone that has handled one of these plates will confirm they are extremely substantial and best placed on heavyweight vehicles - they would slow a sports car down!
Also in 1910, Jepson & Co was incorporated on Companies House for the first time. We still use the same registration number 00112990 - the two zeros at the front show how many more companies have been incorporated since.
By the 1914–1918 period, wartime demands reshaped British manufacturing. Jepson & Co adapted swiftly, applying its pressing and fabrication expertise to support the war effort. This era accelerated Jepson & Co’s shift from artisanal methods to industrialised processes, positioning the company for post-war growth while others struggled to recover. Workers included Sheffield's very own Women of Steel who were given the chance to prove their mettle in metal for the very first time.
In the 1920s, George Arthur Jepson, who had recently been demobilised from the British Army alongside 17 other colleagues, pioneered the use of printed white celluloid sheets for signage, a precursor to reflective technology. While others relied on tinplate, Jepson & Co was already experimenting with materials that would later become standard in sign manufacturing.
The 1930s marked a turning point. Under George Arthur Jepson, the company shifted entirely to number plate production, investing in hydraulic presses and stove enamelling. These innovations allowed Jepson & Co to produce embossed plates that were more durable and visually consistent than anything else on the market.
Did you know? The dies used to make this vintage plate are still in use for making vintage plates today, almost 100-years later.
By the 1940s, wartime constraints once again reshaped British manufacturing. Jepson & Co sustained operations through WWII by adapting its metalworking expertise to support essential services, while continuing to produce number plates under rationed conditions.
In the post-war 1950s, as vehicle ownership surged, Jepson & Co scaled up production and modernised its processes — laying the groundwork for the riveted and embossed plate innovations that would define the decades to come.
By the 1960s, road safety was becoming a national concern. In 1967, reflective plates were introduced voluntarily, with Jepson & Co spearheading this innovation and its approval for UK-wide implementation.
As such, when reflective plates became mandatory in 1973, we had already scaled production and opened regional hubs, enabling seamless nationwide distribution. Others scrambled to catch up.
As more and more households had one or more car, Jepson & Co innovated the ability for outlets to create plates on-demand using tranfers, commissioning a large transfer-production machine set up on the 2nd floor of the East Bank Road factory.
In the 1990s, Jepson & Co led the transition to thermal printing. The company developed robust, cost-effective kits from industrial barcode printers so that retailers could produce plates on demand - technology that remains foundational today. This wasn’t just a product shift; it was a transformation in how plates were made, sold, and supported - outlets could simply tap in a registration and artwork and hit print.
The early 2000s marked a pivotal period for Jepson & Co, as we guided customers through two major regulatory shifts. First came the introduction of British Standard BS AU 145d in 2001, redefining plate construction requirements. Then, in 2003, the DVLA launched the Register of Number Plate Suppliers (RNPS), introducing new compliance obligations for retailers. Jepson & Co was instrumental in helping businesses navigate both changes - providing clear guidance, practical tools, and trusted support at every step.
At the same time, we brought laser printers to market for the first time, enabling outlets to make multi-size plates without the cost of industrial-grade thermal oversize printers.
The 2010s saw Jepson & Co evolve into a software-driven innovator. The new version of PlateSync® enabled a number of integrations such as orders direct from replacemyplates.com and PlatePortal weren’t just tools—they were secure, compliant systems that streamlined plate management. Critically, PlateSync®'s connected software model meant customers could view each and every plate made, along with Insights how to reduce wastage, save cost and stay compliant.
In 2019, PlateSync was officially recognised by the Home Office for its secure data handling, validating Jepson & Co's leadership in digital transformation.
In 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted supply chains and customer service models, Jepson & Co pivoted quickly. The company developed modular sneeze guards for frontline workers—earning BBC coverage and a Make UK Innovation Award. It was a moment that showcased not just technical agility, but ethical responsibility.
The regulatory landscape shifted again in 2021 with the introduction of the new (and very strict) British Standard BS AU 145e alongside Brexit-driven changes to plate identifiers such as the new UK ID for overseas travel. Jepson & Co responded with clarity and speed, updating designs, producing compliant materials, and ensuring outlets had everything they needed to stay ahead.
We even created a shorter number plate which still met all the rules for a full-length registration to help customers manage cost effectively during this challenging pandemic period, our 470x111mm plate. This could still be printed with our standard plate printer, and provided customers a new choice for a sleek, simple design with 10% less material than a standard oblong (520x111mm).
In 2024, Jepson & Co proudly launched our Support Bot, designed to offer instant, intuitive guidance for customers navigating number plate regulations, product options, and ordering support. Built with clarity and care at its core, the bot is available online when you log in and via our PlateSync® software.
This digital assistant isn’t just smart, it’s part of a broader journey. In 2022, we earned ISO:14001 accreditation, formalising our environmental management practices and reinforcing our dedication to sustainable, responsible business. From ethical sourcing to low-impact operations, every interaction, human or digital, is shaped by our values.
That same leadership continued in 2025, with the launch of the JepTab® - a clever, snap-off acrylic tab that simplified making number plates.
JepTab® is our latest legally protected innovation, a discreet peel tab built into the corner of number plate acrylics. Inspired by the simplicity of a yoghurt-pot lid, it allows users to:
