Greg is a serial tech entrepreneur and expert on all things business, having founded, sold and invested in a number of successful e-commerce businesses over the years. The UKs biggest energy companies might shrug off such strident criticism from a campaigner, but Octopus has rapidly ascended to challenge what Jackson, 50, calls the lazy oligopoly of the big six. Elsewhere, a vast screen displays the progress of Plots for Kilowatts, a scheme that matches areas where residents have said theyll put up with an onshore windfarm in return for lower bills with areas where landowners are keen to host one. She has deep knowledge gained across four industries and a lifelong passion for customer and team transformations. Greg: Our proprietary technology platform, Kraken, enables our operating model and efficient customer service. [50][51] In November 2021, Octopus Energy announced plans to raise 4 billion to fund the global expansion of its Fan Club model, which would be expanded to include solar farms. You cant become a car dealer if you havent got the money to buy cars, says Jackson, exasperated. Launched in 2016, the company's mission is to bring cheaper, greener power to all. The project, which coincided with COP26, was realised in Glasgow through collaboration with the local art community, and was designed as a call for global leaders to invest in renewable energies such as solar PV, in order to power a sustainable future. Octopus Energy is currently value at $2 billion, how did this evaluation come about? Clem Cowton is Director of External Affairs at Octopus Energy, heading up the company's advocacy on policy, government affairs and Net Zero. Greg's vision of using technology to disrupt the energy market has enabled Octopus Energy to create tariffs which unlock the power of the green grid - offering cheaper electricity when the sun is shining and the wind is blowing. Love building organisations around people, disrupting industries which underserve customers and society. 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. [61] In May 2021 it was announced that E.ON had completed the migration of all two million former npower customers to its Kraken-powered E.ON Next customer service platform. You cant just enter this market by shaking your piggy bank. He believes suppliers with more than 10,000 customers should be subject to hedging checks. These include: In March 2019, Octopus announced it had partnered with Amazon's Alexa virtual assistant, to optimise home energy use through the Agile Octopus time-of-use tariff. I read an article recently where you said Octopus Energy dont have a HR department. A serial and successful entrepreneur before Octopus Energy, Gregs experience spans mirror manufacturing, coffee shops and multiple software ventures. You also cannot deny the sheer will and determination of Jeff Bezos, and how he has managed to create not only the worlds largest online shopping and delivery site, but also revolutionise cloud computing via AWS, something we have made huge use of with our business. Were in a double crisis now: a cost crisis, and a carbon crisis. Now his mission is to turn Britain on to renewables, despite the efforts of a small noisy group, including Nigel Farage, attacking net zero goals. 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. These days, Greg Jackson is the founder behind the only energy company recommended by Which?. [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. Its Kraken platform was designed to take the traditional worry about renewable energy that wind and sunlight vary in availability and turn it into a virtue, by forecasting and monitoring the output of wind turbines and solar panels, and deciding where the energy should be used or stored when it is abundant. Greg Jackson on Twitter: "Octopus Energy recent commitments: 10,000,000 to build a decarb of heat R&D centre 5,000,000 to establish the Centre for Net Zero 108,000 to its BLM fund 1,000 ad on a right wing channel So, 15,108x more on progressive stuff More soon, but hope perspective helps." / Twitter. Spaces are limited for this very special event so make sure you dont miss out by signing up here. We train our managers to take on many of the functions that are normally covered by HR departments. Since relocating to the UK 7 years ago, Jon worked on the set-up of Bulb and later Octopus Energy. Before joining Octopus, Rachel served as the Chief Executive of Ofwat, the UK's water regulator, and as a Senior Partner and Board member of Ofgem, the UK energy regulator. You are also expanding globally into Australia and Japan, making you one of the fastest growing green energy companies globally. Before Octopus he ran a business with Octopus' founder and CEO Greg Jackson (no relation, honestly!) Jackson said the size of the supplier with 1.5 million customers meant there was no viable route for the business to be taken on by a competitor before its collapse. She loves supporting kind, high performing teams and individuals who want to positively change the world. Stuart Jackson is the Co-Founder and Chief Financial Officer of Octopus Energy. Jackson said that Octopus would be monitoring GB News content to ensure the channel would not be in breach of Octopus' advertising policy. [34], In August 2021, Octopus entered the Spanish market with the acquisition of green energy start-up Umeme. 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. Besides industry-standard fixed and variable tariffs, the company is known for innovative tariffs which are made possible by the national rollout of smart meters. has recommended 5 years in a row. I literally dont get invited to them. The green energy firms founder on his sympathy for those struggling with bills and his exasperation at net zero opponents. Its bollocks, Greg Jackson, the founder and CEO of Octopus Energy, replies, when I ask what he makes of this idea. Our team is made up of climate enthusiasts who know that switching people to green energy and growing that customer base around the world is the number one thing we can do to turn the tide on climate change. 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. [citation needed]. Fellow green energy group Bulb went bust last November and remains in special administration. As of September 2021 the company has over three million domestic and business customers, making it the fourth largest energy supplier in the UK.[2]. Rebecca came to Octopus Energy following an eight-year career at UK energy company British Gas. Spaces are limited for this very special event so make sure you dont miss out by signing up, To be the first to hear about our events, get immediate access to new podcast episodes, and hear news picked just for you . The boss of Octopus Energy has a small tub, which pleases him as it is efficient and fills quickly. [27], In November 2021, Octopus announced in Manchester that it had signed a deal with the city region as part of a bid to become carbon neutral by 2038. Octopuss youthful workforce is poring over energy consumption charts and enthusing about that bespoke tech, called Kraken, which will now be licensed to other utility companies. You need to ask yourself these questions when defining your success. [22], In February 2021, CEO Greg Jackson said on a BBC News interview that Octopus does not operate a human resources department. Greg: Octopus is unusual. These days, Greg Jackson is the founder behind the only energy company recommended by Which?. Our customer service metrics actually improved during the pandemic, and we were the only large domestic energy supplier in the UK still answering calls as usual. 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. His school officially turned into an MMA school in 2000. Were nothing like Bulb.. Currently, Octopus Energy has more than 750,000 customers with 100 per cent renewable electricity, despite only setting up three years ago. [30], In May 2020, Australian electricity and gas supplier Origin Energy paid A$507 million for a 20% stake in Octopus. [12][13], In both 2018 and 2019, Octopus was the only energy supplier to earn "Recommended Provider" status from the Which? Fiona studied Engineering, Economics and Management at Oxford, and initially worked at BMW on a hydrogen fuel cell for an auxiliary power unit, as part of a hydrogen car that used a combustion engine. Events  It was founded in 2015 with the backing of British fund management company Octopus Group, a British asset management company. T&Cs  We are also able to license out Kraken to other energy companies, allowing them to make use of the same efficiencies. 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. consumer organisation. Greg: Weve been rapidly growing and in December closed our second financing round with Tokyo Gas and Origin Energy in 2020, which increased our valuation to more than $2 billion. 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. Prior to Octopus Energy, Zoisa was the UK Managing Director of the Dutch Utility, Eneco B.V. At Eneco, Zoisa helped grow the UKs renewable asset portfolio which consisted of more than 250MW of wind and solar projects, including a direct wire project with Honda of the UK Manufacturing Ltd. Eneco UK also supplied blue-chip companies such as Mars, Unilever, Heineken and AkzoNobel. About Greg Jackson: Greg is an experienced digital entrepreneur, passionate about making the green energy revolution affordable through technology. [20], In November 2020 Octopus acquired Manchester-based smart grid energy software company Upside Energy, which in June 2021 rebranded as KrakenFlex. Or whether we organise a boycott of you". Greg Jackson founded Octopus Energy in 2015 with a view to using technology to make the green energy revolution faster and cheaper for consumers. Zoisa also runs Octopus Energy's renewable generation arm, which recently announced the acquisition of a 3GW portfolio of renewable energy assets across seven countries. The boss of Octopus Energy has a small tub, which pleases him as it is efficient and fills quickly. In 1992, after graduating from Rio Grande High School, Jackson founded his own martial art, Gaidojutsu, which combines rudimentary techniques from catch wrestling and Muay Thai with basic judo locks. Clem joined Octopus from a career in political consultancy for the renewable energy and clean tech sectors. 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. Octopus Energy for Business works with companies to provide future-proof energy services, supplying them with 100% renewable and fairly priced power. Our weekly culture newsletter from books and art to pop culture and memes sent every Friday. Greg Jackson starts each day by flicking on the radio and scrunching into his bath. Im just gobsmacked anyones opposing this., Does being a flag-bearer for green energy get him in hot water at dinner parties? Gregory Jackson (born 1974) is an American mixed martial arts (MMA) trainer who co-owns Jackson Wink MMA Academy in Albuquerque, New Mexico,[1][2] widely considered one of the top MMA training centers in the world. There is growing evidence that diverse workforces are more productive than non-diverse workforces. Greg is the founder and CEO of Octopus Energy Group, the green energy tech pioneer based in the UK with over 3.1 million customers, further operations in 13 countries and over 23 million accounts licensed worldwide to its green technology platform, Kraken. In your view what does it mean to be an entrepreneur and are all entrepreneurs businessmen or women? 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). Rachels remit is to create the regulations and markets needed to achieve net zero quickly and affordably. This platform was created 50/50 by our tech team and our customer service team, and is worked on and tweaked constantly to create the best process for the team who are looking after customers. Jackson explains need for market reform to move to renewable energy sooner. [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. Epitomising the agile leadership that is synonymous with disruptive businesses, Zoisa leads both the generation the business retail arm of Octopus Energy. Our researched showed that Octopus Energy has grown its domestic customer based in UK, from just 198,000 customers in 2018 to over 1.5 million customers in 2020. We need to work like that now on the clean energy system., [See also: The power trap: Why the energy crisis is a crisis of politics], This article appears in the 13 Oct 2021 issue of the New Statesman, Perfect Storm. Greg: The desire for their colleagues to be happy and successful. Greg Jackson was grilled by viewers on profits, prices and electric blankets . Jackson declined to comment on it. A newsletter showcasing the finest writing from the ideas section and the NS archive, covering political ideas, philosophy, criticism and intellectual history - sent every Wednesday. Prior to Affect Energy, where John built up a strong reputation for good, local customer service in Sussex, he was Managing Director of Thermabead Ltd in Worcester. To be the first to hear about our events, get immediate access to new podcast episodes, and hear news picked just for you Join our community! There are bright pink octopus toys dotted around the half-full offices, and crisps and sweets on a communal table. It is truly bonkers, he says, that the UK persists with a system in which central planners decide what cables are going to go where you can centrally plan a system thats got 100 power stations. took on 600,000 customers from bust Avro Energy, a small noisy group, including Nigel Farage, attacking net zero goals. Britains failure to invest in renewables led us into the gas crisis, says Jackson, and a revolution in energy supply and policy is urgently needed. This interview was originally published on our sister platform, ChangeinAfrica Magazine, the content is wholly owned by Innoglo Ltd. Mon - Fri: Respond with 24 hrs We scaled the business by repeatedly cloning micro businesses, and what works for us wont work for other businesses. What advice do you have for other businesses on environmental sustainability and its impact on climate change? How much of your upbringing, surroundings and environment influenced your entrepreneurial journey? Greg: When I meet all of our new starters - which I always make sure to do during introductory training - the ones that stand out to me are the ones that ask themselves what they can do for the company, rather than what the company can do for them, they look at their own skills and wants, see what they can bring to the table and do their best. The migration was hailed as being responsible for E.ON's financial recovery in the UK. More recently in my work history Ive specialised in creating technology & ecommerce platforms, something me and Octopus Energy CTO James Eddison did together for clients such as Greene King and SAP. "The cost of generating a green electron is already today dramatically cheaper than generating a fossil fuel electron" In the latest Inside Octopus, flex-perts Alex and Devrim discuss the path to a cheaper, smarter energy model through flexibility. Octopus are on a mission to bring cheaper, greener power to all. 8 Dislike Share Save. 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. Octopus Energy has a multi faceted business model, generating value from different revenue streams. At Octopus he has responsibility for finance, procurement & market risk management, customer acquisition and data science. He also holds an MBA from Yale University and is an independent non-executive director of the Thames Estuary Growth Board, where he co-chairs the hydrogen committee, and a Member of the Yale University Alumni Association Board of Governors. Are you happy doing what youre doing? Please talk us through your entrepreneurial journey from when you graduated Cambridge University in 1994 to when you cofounded Octopus Energy in 2015? [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. Deepak is a successful entrepreneur himself, taking the tech business he founded from concept to IPO. [43], In its early years the company did not generate gas or electricity, instead making purchases on the wholesale markets. You can meet Greg Jackson and hear more about where he got where he is today at My Entrepreneurial Journey with Greg Jackson on Thursday, 21 November. 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. Greg Jackson was born in Washington D.C. to Kris and Jim Jackson, who were Quakers originally from the Midwest. Greg Jackson, CEO Greg Jackson Founder Octopus Energy agrees $600m deal with former-VP Al Gore backed sustainable investment fund We're over the moon to be able to announce our $600 million partnership with Generation Investment Management, a sustainable investment fund, co-chaired by former US Vice-President and climate champion Al Gore. For those that don't know Octopus Energy, they are UK's fastest growing green energy retailer and are currently valued at $2 billion. 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. 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 . Theyre not doing it because they care about the planet, and theyre not doing it because they care about bills.. Headquartered in London, the company has operations in the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Australia, Japan, New Zealand and the United States. [49], In January 2021, Octopus acquired two 73 metre (240') wind turbines to power their 'Fan Club' tariff, which offers households living near its turbines cheaper electricity prices when the wind is blowing strongly. What impact has the pandemic had on Octopus Energy and how have they navigated this? Its technology platform Kraken also achieves dramatically lower cost to serve than rivals, so cheaper, green power is delivered hand in hand with unbeaten customer satisfaction levels. [31], In November 2021, EDF Energy agreed a deal with Octopus Energy Group to move its five million customers onto its Kraken platform. [29], In September 2019 Octopus acquired German start-up 4hundred for 15m; the acquisition of 4hundred, which had 11,000 customers, was Octopus' first overseas expansion. [45][46] At the time of the acquisition, the generation assets were reported to be worth over 3.4billion. [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. My mum is very, very politically opinionated and I have that., Jackson wont be drawn on how long the energy crisis will last: Its a fool that predicts commodity markets. Prior to joining Octopus Energy, Lara worked at US-based Opower, a customer engagement start-up and pioneer of Behavioural Energy Efficiency. The last 12 months has been tough on a lot of businesses due to the COVID 19 pandemic. With operations in the US, Japan, Germany, Spain, Italy, New Zealand and Australia, Octopus Energy Group's mission to drive the affordable green revolution is going global. Deepak Ravindran moved over to lead Kraken Utilities from Boston Consulting Group (BCG) in 2022. Greg: I prefer the term business leader to entrepreneur, and they can come in all shapes and sizes. Greg Jackson is CEO/Founder at Octopus Energy Ltd. See Greg Jackson's compensation, career history, education, & memberships. [18] The same month saw the launch of London Power, a partnership with the Mayor of London. A weekly newsletter helping you fit together the pieces of the global economic slowdown. Gregory Jackson is an American mixed martial arts trainer who co-owns Jackson Wink MMA Academy in Albuquerque, New Mexico, widely considered one of the top MMA training centers in the world. A weekly round-up of some of the best articles featured in the most recent issue of the New Statesman, sent each Saturday. Please talk us through your operating business model, how it generates value and how this gives you a competitive edge in the retail energy market? Headquartered in London, the company has operations in the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Australia, Japan, New Zealand and the United States. His morning routine echoes the tycoons underprivileged childhood. [24], In July 2021 Octopus rose 12 places on the UK Customer Service Index to 17th, making it the only energy company in the Top 50. Profit? The boss has now stated that it has "never . Greg Jackson isnt your average energy company CEO. With its smart tariffs proving customer appetite for flexibility, Octopus is pioneering a global system change to enable a cheaper, faster transition to renewables. [16][17], In January 2020, ENGIE UK announced that it was selling its residential energy supply business (comprising around 70,000 UK residential customers) to Octopus. Octopus Energy Group operates a wide range of business divisions, including Octopus Energy Retail, Octopus Energy for Business, Octopus Energy Services, Octopus Electric Vehicles, Octopus Energy Generation, Octopus Hydrogen, Kraken, Kraken Flex and the not-for-profit Centre for Net Zero. 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. My Entrepreneurial Journey with Greg Jackson on Thursday, 21 November. They will be global.. Launched in 2016, the companys mission is to bring cheaper, greener power to all. Octopus is also unusual in that, as well as selling to consumers, it derives more than half its value from the technology it licenses to other businesses in the UK and around the world (a model reminiscent of Amazon). A day later, Generation Investment Management, a fund chaired by Al Gore, committed to a $600m investment in Octopus. Both investors back businesses that drive sustainability, promote green energy and tackle climate change. The division is also behind Octopus Energys Fan Club, a local energy tariff that provides cheaper energy when the wind blows. [5], In December 2021, Octopus Energy announced a long-term partnership with Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, raising US$300m and taking the valuation of Octopus Energy Group to approximately $5bn. A relaxed evening talking with Greg Jackson, the founder and Phil Steele Future Technology Evangelist of Octopus Energy.You can email the Octopus team as ref. He's founded a number of successful businesses, including e-commerce company C360, built HomeServe's innovation business and is an angel investor in a wide range of tech start-ups. Alongside its tech, all Octopus marketing is developed in-house, from design and copy through to booking, sitting side by side with operations and customer support. There, Rebecca was Head of Marketing for Dyno Rod, and Head of Product for Hive 2 Thermostats, one of the most sought-after energy products of its time. As the Observer arrives at the headquarters near Oxford Circus, in central London, for our interview, Jackson cheerfully leaps up from his desk among the troops. The investment increased the company's valuation to $4.6bn, with the cash injection to be used by Octopus to increase its investment in new technologies for cheaper and faster decarbonisation. Rachel holds a Bachelors degree in Economics from the University of Sussex, as well as a Masters in Economic and Politics from the University of Cambridge. She has done this all while maintaining some of the very best customer service ratings in the industry. I learned a big chunk of what I know from a brilliant HR Director, Dennis Shuler at Procter & Gamble, who was a massive advocate of decentralisation and people centred management. He won the Coach of the Year award in 2009, 2010 and 2011. Is it profit, value or something else? Registered number: 09263424. Octopus Energy recent commitments: 10,000,000 to build a decarb of heat R&D centre 5,000,000 to establish the Centre for Net Zero 108,000 to its BLM fund 1,000 ad on a right wing . Octopus Energy is also a leading investor in solar and wind energy, managing a 3.4bn portfolio of renewable energy assets across Europe. In regards to your global expansion plans, Octopus Energy is currently located in three continents, do you have any plans of expanding into Africa or acquiring any green energy businesses in Africa? You have cofounded a number of companies over the last 20 plus years, so its fair to say you are a serial entrepreneur.
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