Mike O'Regan set up Hamilton Trust in 1988. Although then still working full-time at RM, he looked forward to being able to develop and support the education of children in the estates bordering Oxford's Ring Road, and from this base also support education nationally. His core belief is that society has for too long underestimated the educational potential of children from areas of socio-economic disadvantage; and that it is primarily through education and high expectations that these children can create for themselves the individual life opportunities they deserve, as well as meeting the needs that the modern economy requires.

He also believes that teachers should be supported more. Researchers have reported that only one in three trainee teachers will be in the profession four years after graduating. Mike believes this is a shocking waste for the country as a whole, and for the individuals themselves. He hopes that Hamilton Trust projects can go some way to addressing this problem and the issue of teacher retention generally.

Mike's current working week is split between Hamilton Trust, other educational charities and a number of commercial activities, the latter mostly to do with the creation, growth and financing of small companies. After graduating in Economics from Cambridge, he travelled, worked on the shop floor and taught for two years before joining Mike Fischer to start Research Machines (RM) in 1973.

From 1992 to 2004 he was a non-executive director of RM, which retains its position as the leading supplier of ICT to schools and colleges. As well as being a director of a number of small companies, including the Oxford Technology VCTs, Mike is also a trustee of PEEP, Rose Hill-Littlemore Sure Start, the Oxford Trust and a number of other educational charities.