Stuart Jackson is the Co-Founder and Chief Financial Officer of Octopus Energy. Were nothing like Bulb.. We want a similar effort to the vaccine rollout, says Jackson, sweeping bags of Frazzles aside. A weekly round-up of some of the best articles featured in the most recent issue of the New Statesman, sent each Saturday. Sign up to receive information regarding NS events, subscription offers & product updates. 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. I want them to know that their work is making a difference, everyday. Jackson declined to comment on it. Or whether we organise a boycott of you". He refers to Octopus as an en-tech business rather than an energy company, and uses an unusual management structure, dividing its 1,600 employees into highly independent teams, obviating the need for a formal HR department. I speak to tech founder and CEO of Octopus Energy Greg Jackson about how he used tech as the platform to disrupt one of the industries most resistant to, and in need of disrup Show Leaders in Cleantech, Ep Greg Jackson, Octopus - 75 - Apr 8, 2021 Octopus began talking to Gores team two years ago. Are you happy doing what youre doing? She loves supporting kind, high performing teams and individuals who want to positively change the world. 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. 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. [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. 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. Currently, Octopus Energy has more than 750,000 customers with 100 per cent renewable electricity, despite only setting up three years ago. Is it profit, value or something else? [22], In February 2021, CEO Greg Jackson said on a BBC News interview that Octopus does not operate a human resources department. Upon the acquisition, Octopus announced it was targeting a million Spanish energy accounts under its brand by 2027. How much of your upbringing, surroundings and environment influenced your entrepreneurial journey? Launched in 2016, the companys mission is to bring cheaper, greener power to all. His school officially turned into an MMA school in 2000. Events  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. 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 Greg: Our proprietary technology platform, Kraken, enables our operating model and efficient customer service. Following an IPO and acquisition by Oracle Utilities she moved to London with her family in 2018 before coming to Octopus Energy Group to lead global sales for Kraken Technologies. Greg: Octopus is unusual. And I'll let you know if we want your ads. 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. [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. Rachels remit is to create the regulations and markets needed to achieve net zero quickly and affordably. The contemporary Jackson-Wink MMA Academy won the same award in 2015.[9]. 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. After his parents split, his mother worked as a barmaid and later studied while on benefits. My Entrepreneurial Journey with Greg Jackson on Thursday, 21 November. Specialties: Technology. Do you have any influences that have inspired your entrepreneurial journey and how? The other key difference between Octopus and other utilities companies is technology. Sunday: 8am - 11pm, Interview with Entrepreneur - Greg Jackson - CEO of Octopus Energy. Since relocating to the UK 7 years ago, Jon worked on the set-up of Bulb and later Octopus Energy. Tara has spent two years leading Octopus Energys 1,000 strong UK operations team through a pandemic, an energy crisis and a day that saw 2 million customers submit meter readings all simultaneously. 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. 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. Contact. Saturday: 8am - 10pm Deepak Ravindran moved over to lead Kraken Utilities from Boston Consulting Group (BCG) in 2022. 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. 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 . I dont just want them to come in and do things for the company. In our experience this leads to strong relationships between managers and team members, happier employees and higher productivity. After graduating I joined Procter & Gamble and went through management training, owned and turned around a number of small ventures, and I even managed a factory that made and sold Mirrors at one point. [31], In November 2021, EDF Energy agreed a deal with Octopus Energy Group to move its five million customers onto its Kraken platform. It could cost taxpayers 2bn. We are doing the same thing in clean, green energy. Jackson applauds Boris Johnsons aspiration to make the UK the Saudi Arabia of wind, and believes such a project could transform our economy: If we build enough wind generation to meet our winter needs, nine months of the year were going to have unbelievably cheap electricity. Octopus Energy is also a leading investor in solar and wind energy, managing a 3.4bn portfolio of renewable energy assets across Europe. 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. 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. 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. Growth? Passionate, creative, innovative CEO, entrepreneur and investor. 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. I also have had non-executive and chairman roles at peer-to-peer lender Zopa and Consultant Connect. Both investors back businesses that drive sustainability, promote green energy and tackle climate change. Octopus Energy for Business works with companies to provide future-proof energy services, supplying them with 100% renewable and fairly priced power. Despite the current crisis of price and supply in the gas market, its described by BP as resilient and by Centrica as more affordable than other energy sources. Recommended Providers", "Best and worst energy companies for 2021 revealed", "ENGIE UK announces the sale of its residential energy supply business to Octopus Energy", "Mayor of London and Octopus Energy's London Power goes live", "Ten fast-growing scaleups drove UK tech boom in 2020, Tech Nations' report shows", "Octopus Energy acquires Upside Energy as it moves to open Manchester tech hub", "CEO Secrets: 'My billion pound company has no HR department', "FT 1000: the fifth annual list of Europe's fastest-growing companies", "UK Customer Satisfaction Index (UKCSI) Institute of Customer Service", "Octopus Energy prepares for air-source heat pump revolution", "Octopus to take on failed Avro Energy's 580,000 stranded customers", "Energy firm to create 300 Manchester jobs through city region partnership", "UK government approves agreement between Bulb and Octopus Energy, providing certainty to 1.5 million customers", "Octopus Energy reaches into Germany with 15m capture of 4hundred", "Australia's Origin Energy to buy 20% stake in UK's Octopus Energy", "Octopus Energy gains unicorn status with 1bn valuation", "Octopus Energy launches into US market with startup acquisition", "Octopus Eyes Japan's Power Market with Tokyo Gas Joint Venture", "Octopus Energy expands into Italy with acquisition of SATO Luce e Gas", "Octopus Energy expands into Spain with Umeme acquisition", "Octopus Energy raises long-term investment to value startup at $5bn", "Stream of customers moving to energy supplier Octopus slows as gas price spikes", "Octopus offers transparency with wholesale price tariff", "Thousands were paid to use extra renewable electricity on windy weekend", "New energy tariff aims to slash charging cost for electric vehicle owners", "Octopus Energy integrates with Amazon Alexa for smart energy use", "Octopus Energy and Ebico join forces to make sustainable heating cheaper", "Octopus Investments increases solar portfolio financing", "FCA clears acquisition of Octopus Renewables by Octopus Energy", "Octopus Energy takes control of group renewables unit", "Tesla Energy Plan launched inviting homes to become part of Virtual Power Plant", "Octopus leans into wind power generation", "Octopus Energy launches 'world first' local time of use Fan Club tariff", "Octopus to Raise 4bn to Expand its 'Fan Club' Model for Local Renewables", "Octopus Energy Group signs deal with Elia Group for European smart green energy grid", "Octopus makes German wind investment as it plans future Fan Club tariff expansion", "Octopus to make offshore wind core investment focus", "Octopus rebrands roaming charge service to become 'Electric Universe', "Octopus Energy choses AWS as its preferred cloud provider for Kraken", "Good Energy turns to Octopus' Kraken for customer services platform", "E.ON allies with Octopus Energy to revamp UK retail business", "E.ON hails turnaround in UK retail business with 100m earnings jump", "Two million customers migrated to Kraken powered E.ON Next in 'record time', "EDF to move 5m customers to Octopus Energy Group digital platform", "How Kraken is waking up customer service for global partners", "We're working with Octopus Energy on a Climate Change Art Prize", "How Octopus Energy used art to get people to switch to green energy", "EI Awards 2020 recognise energy sector's 'indispensable contribution', "The Solar Powered Message of COP26 | Grace Of The Sun", "Ad slots were not planned by us. Having been in the industry for over 20 years, he has founded a number of businesses that he took to sale, including Affect Energy, which became part of the Octopus Energy Group in 2018. It was founded in 2015 with the backing of British fund management company Octopus Group, a British asset management company. 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. [45][46] At the time of the acquisition, the generation assets were reported to be worth over 3.4billion. 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. His old gym, Greg Jackson Fighting Systems won the Gym of the Year award in 2009. With the crisis that toppled so many suppliers continuing to rage, Jackson thinks the chancellor, Rishi Sunak, is right to plough 15bn into addressing the cost of living: It makes economic sense for the government to find ways to bring bills and inflation down. Greg Jackson is the founder and CEO of Octopus Energy Group, the energy technology group with 3.5 million customers globally, operations in 14 countries and a 4.4bn portfolio of renewable energy assets. .more. 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). Its actually more than that: bringing down energy costs is one of the reasons I started the business, he says. 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. I think Im too opinionated. 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. In your view what does it mean to be an entrepreneur and are all entrepreneurs businessmen or women? Update your browser for a better web experience, here and all over the internet. [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. 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. [14] In January 2020, Octopus was ranked first in a Which? Greg is an experienced digital entrepreneur, passionate about making the green energy revolution affordable through technology. [54] In June of that year, the group's fund management team bought the rights to develop the 35MW Gaishecke wind farm near Frankfurt, Germany. [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. We train our managers to take on many of the functions that are normally covered by HR departments. Weve raised 16 times more investment than Bulb did. 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. What would you say are the most important traits business leaders should possess to be successful? 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. Lara leads the Kraken Technologies licensing arm of Octopus Energy Group - one of the fastest growing 'EnTech' companies worldwide, launched in 2016 to use technology to unlock a customer focused and affordable green energy revolution. Registered number: 09263424. [58], Octopus Energy licenses their proprietary customer management system called Kraken, which runs on Amazon's cloud computing service. The plan allows households to become part of the UK Tesla Virtual Power Plant, which connects a network homes that generate, store and return electricity to grid at peak times. 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. [32] In September of that year, Octopus acquired Evolve Energy, a US Silicon Valley-based start-up, in a $5m deal. 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? . 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. The New Statesmans global affairs newsletter, every Monday and Friday. The companys flexibility platform KrakenFlex will be used together with Elia Groups energy data affiliate, re.alto, to enable electric vehicles, heat pumps and other green technologies to be used for grid balancing. James has been instrumental in the creation of Octopus Energys proprietary technology, digital-first offerings and its global expansion. This long-term mission is not only to supply renewable energy all of Octopuss tariffs are advertised as 100 per cent green, and power either comes directly from renewable sources or is certified as renewable using the Rego certificates that Ofgem uses to match power sourced from the open market to renewable supply but to disrupt the UKs dysfunctional energy market. 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. Her work focused on making essential services sustainable, high quality and affordable. 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. They will be global.. Internally its called Winder (wind-Tinder, geddit?). The green energy firm's founder on his sympathy for those struggling with bills - and his exasperation at net zero opponents Until recently, he was also a non-executive Director for Zopa, the global pioneer of online peer to peer lending that is now Moneysupernarkets largest non-high street lender and is growing rapidly. reg Jackson starts each day by flicking on the radio and scrunching into his bath. [4] Greg Jackson is the founder of the company and holds the position of chief executive. 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. 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.. A quick update on the week in companies, markets, finance and the world of work. [1] She has deep knowledge gained across four industries and a lifelong passion for customer and team transformations. 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. He writes on a range of topics including inflation, Brexit, the Bank of England, the world of work and the cost of living crisis. [67] As a result of the campaign, Octopus registered a 163% increase in sign-ups and gained 37,000 customers. It was the companys third major investment round since launching to the market. 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. One department looks after Electric Juice, a service that lets customers add car-charging payments to their electricity bill. Octopus took on 600,000 customers from bust Avro Energy last year, and Jackson accuses the administrators of arguing and quibbling over completely unimportant technical points. His first job on the milk round earned him 15 a week and he joined Greenpeace at sixteen. 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. The engineering part only takes a year.. [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. [72], Responding to Octopus Energy's decision on Twitter, Andrew Neil, founder of GB News, said "Let me know if you want to advertise. One business C360 that was subsequently acquired, was founded to pioneer a new way of using technology to drive marketing or as Greg puts it SaaS before it was trendy. Greg is also an investor in several tech start-ups and as an advisor, supports companies and entrepreneurs with fundraising, mergers, acquisitions and strategy. [9], In 2018 Hanwha Energy Retail Australia (Nectr) chose the Kraken platform, developed by Octopus to provide billing, CRM and other technology services to support its launch into the Australian retail energy market. He began his working life as a video games programmer and always fancied a stint as a motorcycle courier (electric, of course).. Support 100 years of independent journalism. Rachel joined Octopus Energy in 2021, bringing with her a wealth of knowledge following more than two decades of experience in energy regulation. We have already done this in countries like Australia, Germany, US, New Zealand and Japan, so we still have many more countries that could benefit from this technology and our business model. Jackson, 50, grew up near Middlesbrough. Greg Jackson is CEO/Founder at Octopus Energy Ltd. See Greg Jackson's compensation, career history, education, & memberships. [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. [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. Im just gobsmacked anyones opposing this., Does being a flag-bearer for green energy get him in hot water at dinner parties? He began his career at consumer goods giant Procter & Gamble before running businesses including a coffee shop and a mirror manufacturer. Greg: Success is different for everybody, and you need to be honest with yourself about what would make your job a success, is it happiness? KrakenFlex is currently contracted to manage over 1,600 MW of power with further 2 GWs of renewable generation to come online through 2022. We speak to Greg Jackson, CEO of Octopus Energy Group, the technology-to-investment energy platform, about the importance of government intervention in energy policy, the role of technology, and how a greener future could be nearer than we think. 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. We took the 15 years it usually takes to make a vaccine, and did it in less than a year. The collection of projects reflects Jacksons entrepreneurial background. Whos Here   Prior to joining Octopus Energy as Director of Operations, Tara spent three years at Tesla helping scale their service organisation in the UK & Benelux and as Country Manager for the UK. Greg Jackson founded Octopus Energy in 2015 with a view to using technology to make the green energy revolution faster and cheaper for consumers. 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. 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. Registered office: UK House, 5th floor, 164-182 Oxford Street, London, W1D 1NN. The customer accounts will be migrated onto Kraken from 2023, increasing the number of energy accounts contracted to be served via Kraken to over 20million worldwide. 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. Recommended Provider accolade five years in a row. [23], In March 2021 the Financial Times listed Octopus at number 23 on their list of the fastest growing companies in Europe. Greg: The desire for their colleagues to be happy and successful. Family In a relationship; has two children from previous partners. He has never taken a bonus, and owns a 6% stake, worth about 240m. I lived through rip-roaring inflation in the 1980s and double-digit interest rates. John is a highly experienced energy entrepreneur. Hello Greg, and thank you for taking the time our to participate in this interview. How we work  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. Jackson grew up in a rough neighborhood, and began learning martial arts to defend himself. She spent some time consulting for a FTSE 100 energy company, followed by a secondment to the Department for the Energy & Climate Change (DECC), and then launching market-leading connected home products - starting at British start-up Alert Me, who became part of the leading smart home provider Hive, a British Gas innovation. Its bollocks, Greg Jackson, the founder and CEO of Octopus Energy, replies, when I ask what he makes of this idea. [18] The same month saw the launch of London Power, a partnership with the Mayor of London. Mohamed Abubakar, his wife Rasha Al-Buriahi and their four children all sleep and eat in the same room. In 2010, Jackson released another instructional book about his ground fighting style called Jackson's MMA - The Ground Game. [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. Headquartered in London, the company has operations in the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Australia, Japan, New Zealand and the United States. Day-to-day, she works closely with regulators, industry bodies and policy makers to shape the energy system of the future. "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. The only energy supplier Which? Please talk us through your entrepreneurial journey from when you graduated Cambridge University in 1994 to when you cofounded Octopus Energy in 2015? [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. 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. What would you say is the most important trait of a successful entrepreneurs? Greg is an experienced digital entrepreneur, passionate about using technology to make positive change. We are also able to license out Kraken to other energy companies, allowing them to make use of the same efficiencies. The migration was hailed as being responsible for E.ON's financial recovery in the UK. After his parents split, his mother worked as a barmaid and later studied while on benefits. The mop-topped energy boss, dressed in grey T-shirt and jeans, has become the acceptable face of a pariah industry. [3] Trading began in December 2015. 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. Greg: No country is off limits to Octopus Energy, we aim to bring cheaper, greener energy and world-class customer service to many people all over the world. Jackson, 50, grew up near Middlesbrough. Before Octopus he ran a business with Octopus' founder and CEO Greg Jackson (no relation, honestly!) You have cofounded a number of companies over the last 20 plus years, so its fair to say you are a serial entrepreneur. 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. Theyve been characterised as inexperienced and foolhardy for not hedging their energy far enough in advance. 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. In 2006, he sold a customer relationship tech business for 4.5m. He won the Coach of the Year award in 2009, 2010 and 2011. 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. Read more . The boss of Octopus Energy has a small tub, which pleases him as it is efficient and fills quickly. He now runs Octopus, the green energy supplier founded in. Rumours are that he may be training Zack "The Assassin" Stiles, 16 year old, in the future. A day later, Generation Investment Management, a fund chaired by Al Gore, committed to a $600m investment in Octopus. Mark Wahlberg's wife Rhea Durham shares sweet tribute to their daughter Grace on 13th birthday with snaps from . Or the F-word., Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning, Octopus Energys Greg Jackson: Climate change is no longer this vague thing, Greg Jackson: We want a similar effort [on renewables] to the vaccine rollout.. Among the companies using Kraken is E.On, the second-largest electricity supplier in the UK. Jon has worked for the last 18 years building a number of successful energy challengers, service innovators and disruptors across both Australia and the UK. At Octopus he has responsibility for finance, procurement & market risk management, customer acquisition and data science. Deepak has been involved as a partner to Octopus Energy Group since 2018. Greg Jackson is CEO of Octopus Energy, which is valued at more than 1.4billion . Stuart has a degree in Economics from Cambridge University. 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. [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 holds an MBA in Marketing, Strategy and Information Systems from the Indian Institute of Management and a B Tech in Chemical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology. What inspired this leadership technique and what are the pros and cons of Octopus Energy not having a HR department? 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. .more. The Kent areas where house prices rose the most in 2022. [3][4][5][6] Jackson has trained many successful fighters, including former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones, former UFC Welterweight Champion Georges St-Pierre, former UFC Women's Bantamweight Champion Holly Holm, former Light Heavyweight Champion Rashad Evans, and a roster of other UFC contenders and World Extreme Cagefighting champions. 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. His morning routine echoes the tycoons underprivileged childhood. Launched in 2016, Octopus Energy's mission is to bring cheaper, greener power to all through technology. Greg Jackson isnt your average energy company CEO. Energy companies are going to end up more like technology companies, like AirBnB, Amazon, Google and Monzo says Greg. Fellow green energy group Bulb went bust last November and remains in special administration. As someone whose LinkedIn profile professes a love of disrupting industries that underserve customers and society, its no surprise Greg is passionate about enhancing the customer experience. As a company we are completely digital, so we asked everybody to take their laptops home on Friday, and when lockdown was announced on Monday, our team just plugged the headsets into their laptops and continued working as usual. For those that don't know Octopus Energy, they are UK's fastest growing green energy retailer and are currently valued at $2 billion. [64] Kraken also has strategic partnerships with Hanwha Group and Tokyo Gas. 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. For those that don't know Octopus Energy, they are UK's fastest growing green energy retailer and are currently valued at $2 billion. Greg Jackson was grilled by viewers on profits, prices and electric blankets . Theyre not doing it because they care about the planet, and theyre not doing it because they care about bills.. Europe is going to go into this winter with more gas storage than last year, but if Russia stops sending gas to Europe, prices will skyrocket.. Greg is also a strong advocate of maintaining a good work-life balance with his work-life blend, which to him means creating a symbiotic, rather than a compartmentalised relationship between his various work commitments and personal life, so he can remain present in all of them. Greg Jackson, Founder & CEO. Greg: If I could change anything I would have trusted myself more, as I could have started Octopus Energy five years earlier than I did! 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. 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. 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. Octopuss other renewables ventures include a huge push to replace gas boilers with heat pumps, and investment in what will be the worlds longest subsea power cable, linking Devon to a vast solar farm in the Moroccan desert. [38], As of August 2021, the company has over 2.4 million domestic and business customers. Hes founded a number of successful businesses, including e-commerce company C360, and is an angel investor in a wide range of tech start-ups. 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. There are companies whose entire asset base [is] in gas, he continues, and they will relentlessly try to tell us gas is the solution, or hydrogen is the solution. As 31 energy firms went bust since the start of last year, public ire has been directed at the bosses of failed challengers. [74], "Octopus Energy sees 160% jump in revenue but still records loss due to 'relentless investment', "Blame game begins after the failure of Bulb Energy", "Al Gore's firm buys 483m stake in Octopus Energy Group", "Octopus Energy to take on 100,000 Iresa customers", "M&S cuts ties with Big Six as it partners with Octopus for new energy brand", "Hanwha Reveals Plans of Launching "Next Generation" 100% Renewable Energy Retailer in Australia", "Hanwha Group chooses Octopus Energy technology platform for Aussie launch", "Octopus Energy and Co-op Energy confirm major 'strategic energy partnership', "About our partnership with Co-op Energy, including Flow Energy and GB Energy", "Energy Companies: Which? [12][13], In both 2018 and 2019, Octopus was the only energy supplier to earn "Recommended Provider" status from the Which? 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. John moved from managing Affect Energy to running Octopus' engineering fleet and developing the UK's first Heat Pump Research & Development Centre, along with the proposition to train over 1,000 heat pump engineers a year and produce 1,000 heat pumps a month through the new Octopus Energy factory in Northern Ireland. Quick and essential guide to domestic and global politics from the New Statesman's politics team. [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. 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 . 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. Octopus and Tokyo Gas agreed to launch the Octopus brand in Japan via a 30:70 joint venture to provide electricity from renewable sources, amongst other services. Rebecca is a highly experienced marketer and known for breathing new life into technology products. Jacksons career has been far from typical for the energy business. [15] In January 2021, Octopus was ranked second and was one of two recommended providers, becoming the only energy provider in the UK to have been named as a recommended provider four years running. Weve never made a profit and were going to, but weve ploughed everything were going to make into customer support so were not going to make one this year, he says. We have a technology licensing business with big customers like E.ON and EDF, and weve invested in generation and a heat pump centre. Profit? With the pandemic, we took the 15 years it usually takes to make a vaccine, and did it in less than a year. [37], In January 2022 Octopus Energy entered the French market with the acquisition of Plm nergie, a French energy start-up with 100,000 retail and corporate accounts. Currently, Octopus Energy has more than 750,000 customers with 100 per cent renewable electricity, despite only setting up three years ago. Everyone wants to talk about the transition fuel maybe a 20 per cent hydrogen mix in our gas supplies, that kind of thing Even if the hydrogen was zero-carbon which, by the way, the creation of hydrogen so far in the UK at scale is definitely not it would only reduce the carbon emissions of gas by 6-8 per cent because of the lower energy density, [and] it would put bills up dramatically, because hydrogen is a lot more expensive. Octopus Energy is a green energy company and one of the leaders when it comes to environmentally sustainable practices. 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. Are people working at your company happy? The campaign won the 2020 Marketing Week Masters award for utilities, and the 2020 Energy Institute award for Public Engagement. About   All drivers can use the service, and Octopus Energy customers have the option of paying their charging costs through their domestic energy bills. Upstream reported that Jackson joined Greenpeace at the age of 16, and his expertise was in mirror manufacturing, coffee shops and software before launching Octopus Energy in 2015. Octopus Energy is currently value at $2 billion, how did this evaluation come about? By expanding to so many other countries and really capitalising on the technology we create, we are able to have an edge on the competition. Now we see this as a national security issue as well if thats not the final nail I dont know what to do.. Last month Octopus pledged 50m to cut customer bills until Octobers price cap rise, part of a longer-term package worth 150m. Greg: I have a strong desire for my colleagues to be successful. [43], In its early years the company did not generate gas or electricity, instead making purchases on the wholesale markets. 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 believes his thrifty upbringing allows him to empathise with struggling customers. 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). The green energy firms founder on his sympathy for those struggling with bills and his exasperation at net zero opponents. 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. Jackson came from a family of wrestlers (his father, brother, and uncle were all champions in the sport). People thought electric vehicles wouldnt take off but look at Tesla now. 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. 464 views May 4, 2022 Greg Jackson is the founder and chief executive of Octopus Energy, one of the UK's fastest-growing energy companies. Greg: The pandemic certainly hasnt slowed us down. [34], In August 2021, Octopus entered the Spanish market with the acquisition of green energy start-up Umeme. that helped retail financial services businesses re-invent product offers online. Jon holds an MBA in Business Administration from La Trobe University and Chifley Business School. In order to provide you with the latest digital energy web services you need to use the latest and greatest web browsers. Deepak is a successful entrepreneur himself, taking the tech business he founded from concept to IPO. Pay Minimum wage; Jackson gave up his 150,000 salary when the energy crisis began last autumn, donating the rest of his original salary to Octopuss staff welfare and its financial hardship fund, Octo Assist. 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. It has enabled us to lower our costs to serve up to 75% compared to some of our competitors Thanks to Kraken, we are able to scale our customer service team quickly to take on new customers and keep them happy. Octopus Energy Ltd is a company registered in England and Wales. 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. for loop in withcolumn pyspark, the closer fritz died, francie rehwald net worth, methanol safety data sheet, hcmc lawsuit court date, kenmore west teachers, sports lawyers association conference 2022 registration, tony ganios insurance, citizens bank park covered seats, how to follow people on letterboxd, draftkings tier rewards, michael long obituary, simcity buildit land expansion cheat, grooms funeral home cheraw sc obituaries, junior operations manager revolut salary,

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