Entrepreneur made an MBE in King's Birthday Honours

Dean Jackson, from Derby, said he initially suspected news of the award was a hoax

Derby businessman Dean Jackson has been awarded an MBE in the King's Birthday Honours.

The 53-year-old is made a Member of the Order of the British Empire for services to business and innovation.

The founder of HUUB - which makes clothing for triathletes, swimmers, runners and cyclists - said he first thought news of the award was a hoax.

He said: “I found myself checking the phone number on the letter - I even sniffed the paper it was written on, because I couldn’t believe it was true."

Family's pride

Mr Jackson, whose sportswear has adorned gold medal-winning Olympians, now has a gong of his own.

He left Noel Baker School, Alvaston, Derby, with two O-Levels and set up HUUB from his kitchen table in 2011 while unemployed.

He said: “I'm incredibly proud, humbled and excited - I’m just a normal bloke from Derby who is working in his passion.

"This is recognition for the amazingly smart people I get to work with every day."

HUUB, on Full Street, Derby, employs 20 people and in 2021 was awarded the Queen's Award for enterprise and innovation.

Mr Jackson said he had always wanted to make his family proud, especially his parents.

He added: "I know this will have surpassed all their expectations. My mother passed away last October, and I hope she’s looking down as gobsmacked as I am.”

The official citation for his award from the Cabinet Office says: "He is a driven entrepreneur with an unrelenting focus on innovation."

He said: "Thank you to my family, especially my wife Angela, and the amazing team of people at HUUB – none of this would have been possible without them.”

He is due to collect his award at Buckingham Palace later in the year.

Other awards

Other Derbyshire winners to receive awards in the King's Birthday Honours, announced on Friday night, include:

• Derby-born Jasvinder Sanghera CBE, founder of charity Karma Nirvana, is made a Dame for services to the victims of forced marriage and honour-based abuse;

• Elaine Clark, chief executive of the Rail Forum (formerly Derby Rail Forum) is awarded an OBE for services to the rail supply industry;

• Frank McArdle, former chief executive of South Derbyshire District Council is made an MBE for services to local government.

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