Our Founder, Hubert Nomamiukor organised a Q&A session with Greg Jackson, the CEO of Octopus Energy, to capture his entrepreneurial journey, influences and perspectives. In 72 hours, the six-year-old company had swelled to accommodate more customers than Scottish Power (to 3.1 million in total) and a higher valuation (approaching $5bn) than Centrica, the owner of British Gas. Greg: Dont get me wrong, profit and value are incredibly important to a companys life-cycle, but happiness should be put above all else. He also served as Director of several innovative businesses, including Zopa, the worlds first peer-to-peer lender, which has now lent almost 2bn fairly and responsibly. [citation needed]. Energy companies around the world still maintain that natural gas (perhaps cleaned up with a puff of hydrogen) is the transition fuel that will take us to net zero. With that he dashes off to do the school run, ready to pass on his opinions to the next generation. Aside from that, every experience has helped in some way or another, and been a vital lesson to learn to get me where I am today. She has deep knowledge gained across four industries and a lifelong passion for customer and team transformations. KrakenFlexs cloud-based technology platform controls distributed energy assets such as large-scale batteries, EVs, or heat pumps with machine learning and AI to match electricity supply and demand, helping the electricity grid deal with the natural volatility of renewable generation. In May 2020, her team launched the Electric Juice Charging Network, the UK's first consolidated network of charge point providers that allows users to charge their EVs across the UK with all costs appearing on a single bill. Launched in 2016, the company's mission is to bring cheaper, greener power to all. [38], As of August 2021, the company has over 2.4 million domestic and business customers. She is Chief Marketing and Product Officer at Octopus Energy. Devrim is the CEO of KrakenFlex, formerly Upside Energy, which joined the Octopus Energy Group in 2020 to add another layer of capabilities to Octopus's energy technology platform, 'Kraken'. We have an aim to reach over 100 million customers by 2027, whether thats via other companies licensing Kraken or customers joining Octopus Energy, so we never say never for any country or continent, even if we dont have any plans to at the moment. Energetic and emotionally intelligent, Tara has almost 20 years of experience in developing breakthrough customer strategies and bringing out the best, most caring sides of individuals and teams doing the most vital of jobs, customer operations. [58], Octopus Energy licenses their proprietary customer management system called Kraken, which runs on Amazon's cloud computing service. Octopus Energy is currently value at $2 billion, how did this evaluation come about? Are people working at your company happy? After his parents split, his mother worked as a barmaid and later studied while on benefits. There was a problem! Clem led Octopus Energys campaign for an energy price cap and has worked closely with government to help drive policy for the decarbonisation of heat and support the transition to a more renewable grid. With its smart tariffs proving customer appetite for flexibility, Octopus is pioneering a global system change to enable a cheaper, faster transition to renewables. Sign up to receive information regarding NS events, subscription offers & product updates. Greg Jackson, Founder & CEO. He spends around an hour each day dealing directly with customers to understand that experience better, along with discussing trade-offs such as pricing strategy and infrastructure. The division is also behind Octopus Energys Fan Club, a local energy tariff that provides cheaper energy when the wind blows. The green energy firm's founder on his sympathy for those struggling with bills - and his exasperation at net zero opponents You can tell if someone grew up in a cold house: we often prefer baths when you get out of the shower you get a real shock, he says. Last holiday Cotswold Water Park, with family and friends. The collection of projects reflects Jacksons entrepreneurial background. Deepak Ravindran moved over to lead Kraken Utilities from Boston Consulting Group (BCG) in 2022. Greg: The pandemic certainly hasnt slowed us down. Or whether we organise a boycott of you". Stuart has a degree in Economics from Cambridge University. Prior to joining Octopus Energy, Lara worked at US-based Opower, a customer engagement start-up and pioneer of Behavioural Energy Efficiency. On 26 September, it was announced that Octopus would be taking on the 580,000 former customers of Avro Energy, which had ceased trading the previous week. that helped retail financial services businesses re-invent product offers online. Its demoralising that we cant keep bills lower in the short term when we need it most, but we have done a tremendous amount up to now.. Greg: I prefer the term business leader to entrepreneur, and they can come in all shapes and sizes. We also create industry leading technology that allows relentless efficiency and world class customer service, enabling us to retain our customers and keep them happy. Greg: Passionate young people who believe in our mission. [10][11], In August 2019, an agreement with Midcounties Co-operative saw Octopus gain more than 300,000 customers, taking its total beyond 1 million. Greg Jackson is CEO of Octopus Energy, which is valued at more than 1.4billion . 8 Dislike Share Save. [73], Octopus was one of a number of brands who considered pulling their advertising from the channel, with others including IKEA, Vodafone, Nivea, Kopparberg, Grolsch, the Open University, OVO Energy and LV=. [20], In November 2020 Octopus acquired Manchester-based smart grid energy software company Upside Energy, which in June 2021 rebranded as KrakenFlex. [42], As part of their partnership agreed in August 2019, Midcounties Co-operative and Octopus established a joint venture to develop the UK's community energy market and encourage small-scale electricity generation. Octopus Energy is a green energy company and one of the leaders when it comes to environmentally sustainable practices. Located in Slough, the centre will train 1000 heat pump engineers per year and develop new heating systems. [36], In September 2021, Generation Investment Management, co-founded and chaired by Al Gore, purchased a 13% stake in Octopus Energy Group in a deal worth $600m. The New Statesmans weekly environment email on the politics, business and culture of the climate and nature crises - in your inbox every Thursday. I also have had non-executive and chairman roles at peer-to-peer lender Zopa and Consultant Connect. He also has a wealth of experience in energy efficiency and looks after Octopus energy efficiency schemes alongside metering, solar, heat pumps and EV chargers. Three Co-op brands were affected: Octopus acquired the customers of the GB Energy and Flow Energy brands, and began to operate the accounts of Co-op Energy customers on a white label basis, while Midcounties retained responsibility for acquiring new Co-op Energy customers. Greg: I have a strong desire for my colleagues to be successful. Youll be able to fuel your car for free, make steel for free, do indoor farming with virtually zero energy costs. But the current reality is that in government, too, the pace of change is frustratingly slow: a wind farm can be built in 12 months, and an undersea cable between the UK and France can be laid in ten days, but approval and grid connections can take years. Specialties: Technology. Octopus's approach is certainly not for everyone. [6] Later in 2018, Octopus gained the 100,000 customers of Iresa Limited, under Ofgem's "supplier of last resort" process, after Iresa ceased trading. [12][13], In both 2018 and 2019, Octopus was the only energy supplier to earn "Recommended Provider" status from the Which? Prior to that Stuart spent 6 years with Barclays Bank, including a stint running a 5bn credit card business and 10 years as a strategy consultant. Jackson and his family moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico when he was three years old. reg Jackson starts each day by flicking on the radio and scrunching into his bath. Theyve secured excellent leasing rates on leading EVs, designed a great EV salary sacrifice scheme to help businesses increase the uptake of EVs, created energy tariffs designed specifically for EV drivers, and have partnered with smart charging tech companies to enable customers to access cheap and green energy rates with ease. Support 100 years of independent journalism. She loves supporting kind, high performing teams and individuals who want to positively change the world. What is the secret behind the growth and success of Octopus Energy? [65], In 2019 Octopus launched a 'Portraits from the Precipice' campaign, which sought to raise awareness of climate change and encouraged customers to switch to greener energy deals. In this episode Greg shares not only what it means to be a successful leader and team player, but how to live a more authentic life altogether. [59] It was first licensed by UK rival Good Energy in late 2019, for an initial three-year term, to manage its 300,000 customers. [47][48], In October 2020, Octopus partnered with Tesla Energy to power the Tesla Energy Plan, which is designed to power a home with 100% clean energy either from solar panels or Octopus. Refresh Were in a double crisis now: a cost crisis, and a carbon crisis. Greg Jackson is the founder and CEO of Octopus Energy Group, which currently has over 3.1 million UK customers. Rachel joined Octopus Energy in 2021, bringing with her a wealth of knowledge following more than two decades of experience in energy regulation. Internally its called Winder (wind-Tinder, geddit?). These are things we should do everything to avoid., He believes the energy crisis has underscored the need for Britain to move away from oil and gas. Rumours are that he may be training Zack "The Assassin" Stiles, 16 year old, in the future. Diversity is extremely important during our hiring process, and we anonymise CVs so that we can hire for the people behind the name and profile. The contemporary Jackson-Wink MMA Academy won the same award in 2015.[9]. [72], Responding to Octopus Energy's decision on Twitter, Andrew Neil, founder of GB News, said "Let me know if you want to advertise. What is the number one trait you look for in employees before recruiting them as part your team, and how has this requirement been integrated into the organisations culture and recruitment policy? Day-to-day, she works closely with regulators, industry bodies and policy makers to shape the energy system of the future. [31], In November 2021, EDF Energy agreed a deal with Octopus Energy Group to move its five million customers onto its Kraken platform. How we work [7] In 2007, Jackson teamed up with striking coach Mike Winkeljohn, which was a seminal moment for Jackson's academy; since then, the gym has been known as Jackson Wink MMA Academy (JW MMA Academy),[8] representing the partnership between Jackson and Winkeljohn. Quick and essential guide to domestic and global politics from the New Statesman's politics team. James is an e-commerce specialist who was the brains behind a number of high profile tech platforms for clients such as the UK Labour Party, Citroen and Hermes, among others. It is the first time a CEO of a large energy retailer has come on The Martin Lewis Money Show to respond to questions from the British public live on air. [44] In July 2021, Octopus acquired sister company Octopus Renewables which claims to be the UK's largest investor in solar farms, and also invests in wind power and anaerobic digesters. As of September 2022, more than 450 charging companies were taking part, allowing customers access to over 300,000 chargers in over 50 countries through a single card and/or app. A weekly round-up of some of the best articles featured in the most recent issue of the New Statesman, sent each Saturday. The New Statesmans global affairs newsletter, every Monday and Friday. What would you say is the most important trait of a successful entrepreneurs? Are you happy doing what youre doing? Jon played a key role in establishing leading Australian challengers Simply Energy (now part of Engie) and Alinta East Coast retail holding a number of senior roles across operations, customer experience and market development. London Tuesday 8th November - This evening, the founder and CEO of Octopus Energy, Greg Jackson, joined consumer champion Martin Lewis on his flagship TV show on ITV. Coaches Honored with Jackson/Winkeljohn Dat, How a powerhouse MMA gym rose out of necessity and is helping others, Ranking the 10 Best Camps in MMA Right Now, Rankings Spotlight: MMAs Top 5 Fight Gyms, "War And Peace In Jackson's Gym - SI.com - Magazine", "Fighters Only World Mixed Martial Arts Awards 2010 - 2009 Winners", "Bellator's 'Fight Master' reality series set for summer debut on Spike TV", Jacksons Wink MMA Academy - Official Website, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Greg_Jackson_(MMA_trainer)&oldid=1055483227, Sportspeople from Albuquerque, New Mexico, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 16 November 2021, at 03:38. [56][57], The Electric Universe service, which aims to simplify public charging of electric vehicles, was launched in 2020 as Electric Juice and rebranded in 2022. She has done this all while maintaining some of the very best customer service ratings in the industry. Im just gobsmacked anyones opposing this., Does being a flag-bearer for green energy get him in hot water at dinner parties? Now we see this as a national security issue as well if thats not the final nail I dont know what to do.. Customers on the tariff get a 20% discount on the unit price when the turbines are spinning, and a 50% discount when the wind is above 8m/s (20 mph). In 2009, Jackson released an instructional book about his fighting style called Jackson's MMA - The Stand Up Game. Her work focused on making essential services sustainable, high quality and affordable. Octopus Energy is one of the fastest growing energy firms to ever launch in Britain and is on track to join the Big Six utility providers. Jackson reaffirmed that Octopus had not boycotted the channel. We'll monitor any new channels (including this) before running ads and will only advertise if balanced and meets our policies", "As per my message, we didn't boycott - I wanted to see the channel and am true to my word", "GB News hails boycott victory - Full list of advertisers BACKING Andrew Neil's channel", "Octopus Energy's Greg Jackson: 'Climate change is no longer this vague thing', Timeline of the electricity supply industry, Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Minister of State for Business, Energy and Clean Growth, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Climate Change and Sustainable Energy Act 2006, Centre for Renewable Energy Systems Technology, Hadley Centre for Climate Prediction and Research, Association for the Conservation of Energy, Double Glazing & Conservatory Ombudsman Scheme, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Octopus_Energy&oldid=1128995384, Electric power companies of the United Kingdom, Renewable resource companies established in 2015, Renewable energy companies of the United Kingdom, Articles with unsourced statements from October 2021, Articles containing potentially dated statements from September 2021, All articles containing potentially dated statements, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Greg Jackson (CEO), Stuart Jackson (CFO), James Eddison (CTO), Zoisa North-Bond (CEO, Octopus Generation), Rebecca Dibb-Simkin (CMO), Peter Miller (Customer Experience) Fiona Howarth (CEO, Octopus Electric Vehicles), This page was last edited on 23 December 2022, at 02:23. I read an article recently where you said Octopus Energy dont have a HR department. Tellingly, before the age of 30, he had owned and/or managed a number of small businesses employing 4-60 people and turning over 400k to 4m. Elon has the vision and reach to be able to disrupt so many industries for the better, and I believe we have similar approaches in disrupting industries to help save the planet. took on 600,000 customers from bust Avro Energy, a small noisy group, including Nigel Farage, attacking net zero goals. Theyve been characterised as inexperienced and foolhardy for not hedging their energy far enough in advance. We need to work like that now on the clean energy system., Jackson accuses the management of the UK energy grid as being stuck in the past, describing the National Grid as a monopoly and its control room as like a minicab office. .more. Octopus is his magnum opus, taking on the tired, old energy market . Energy companies are going to end up more like technology companies, like AirBnB, Amazon, Google and Monzo says Greg. Education Huntcliff secondary school in Saltburn-by-the-Sea, east of Middlesbrough (left at 16); wrote video games software before returning to do A-levels; economics degree at Pembroke College, Cambridge. [14] In January 2020, Octopus was ranked first in a Which? If you could do it all over again what would you do differently in your entrepreneurial journey? With the pandemic, we took the 15 years it usually takes to make a vaccine, and did it in less than a year. Greg: Believe it or not, I dropped out of school at 16 to start creating video games before eventually going to Cambridge University. The first nail in the coffin should have been climate change, then it should have been the fact that renewables are now cheaper than fossil fuels. T&Cs Stuart Jackson is the Co-Founder and Chief Financial Officer of Octopus Energy. It was at that point she founded Octopus Electric Vehicles, and since then has been building a team of experts passionate about helping consumers and businesses make that transition to electric vehicles. As a Senior Partner and Managing Director at BCG, Deepak gained extensive experience transforming legacy businesses through technology, working across the UK, Nordics, US, South East Asia and India. Cheap energy bills arent coming back this decade, Christopher Harborne: the silent donor behind Brexit and Boris Johnson, Sherif Tawfik: The Middle East and Africa are ready to lead on the climate, The power trap: Why the energy crisis is a crisis of politics, Elon Musk was never really the worlds richest man, Why Jeremy Hunt is gambling with thousands of small businesses, The year woke broke: a brief history of a contested word, Why Britains economy has never been worse, with Duncan Weldon, The good social network: what Twitter could learn from the coffeehouse Audio Long Reads, Facility / Grounds Management and Maintenance, HR, Training and Organisational Development, Information and Communications Technology, Information Services, Statistics, Records, Archives, Infrastructure Management - Transport, Utilities, Science and Technical Research and Development. To mark International Men's Day today we are giving a shoutout to the leading men in energy supporting the work of POWERful Women and driving better balance . What we have to do now is a million times more complicated., The result of this simplified central planning could be seen the previous week, when electricity prices were colossally high, we were having to use lots of back-up supplies [and] we were literally paying wind generators in Scotland to turn off, because there werent enough cables connecting Scotland, where the electricity was being generated, to England, where we needed it., The solution, he says, is for the energy grid to become more like the internet. What would you say are the most important traits business leaders should possess to be successful? Rebecca came to Octopus Energy following an eight-year career at UK energy company British Gas. Upon the acquisition, Octopus announced it was targeting a million Spanish energy accounts under its brand by 2027. survey and was one of three recommended providers. [30], In May 2020, Australian electricity and gas supplier Origin Energy paid A$507 million for a 20% stake in Octopus. Theres some blokes with phones, and what theyve always done is phoned up coal and gas power stations and told them to turn on and off. Octopus Energy Ltd is a company registered in England and Wales. Like technology companies, like AirBnB, Amazon, Google and Monzo says greg 58 ], Octopus was first! Pioneer of Behavioural Energy Efficiency she loves supporting kind, high quality greg jackson octopus wife. Albuquerque, New Mexico when he was three years old joining Octopus Energy most important trait of successful. Where you said Octopus Energy & nbsp stuart Jackson is CEO of Energy! 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