Greg Jackson, founder and CEO of Octopus Energy, shares his entrepreneurial journey in the energy market. Highlights include his early years in Germany, returning to education, and his transition from selling his mirror company to venturing into the energy sector. Greg also discusses the importance of customer care and his desire to explore new places. He reveals his choice of a pinball machine as a luxury item on a desert island.
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question_answer ANECDOTE
Camping Trip with Yazz
Greg Jackson recalls a camping trip across North Yorkshire with friends at 16.
They listened to Yazz and the Plastic Population's "The Only Way Is Up" on a small radio.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Introduction to Heavy Metal
Greg Jackson bought Iron Maiden's "Run to the Hills" as one of his first records.
His babysitter's boyfriend, a motorbike enthusiast, introduced him to heavy metal.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Radio 4 House
Greg Jackson's family always listened to BBC Radio 4.
At 14, he wired speakers throughout the house so his mom could listen everywhere.
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Greg Jackson is the founder and CEO of Octopus Energy. The company is the UK’s second largest domestic energy provider with over five million customers and is one of Europe’s leading investors in renewables.
Greg was born in Germany in 1971 where his father was a surveyor in the army. The family returned to the UK a few years later and, following his parents’ divorce, Greg and his two younger siblings were brought up by his mother in Halifax. He describes his mother’s fortitude in bringing up three children on a tight budget as inspirational.
Greg left school at 16 to write video games but returned to education a few years later to complete his A-Levels. He went on to study economics at Cambridge University and then joined Procter and Gamble’s graduate scheme where he worked in marketing.
He became managing director of a mirror business when he was still in his twenties and then began flexing his business acumen by investing in a series of tech start-up businesses. In 2015 he secured £10m in investment to start a new energy company.
Greg has two sons and lives in west London.
DISC ONE: The Only Way is Up - Yazz & The Plastic Population
DISC TWO: Run To The Hills - Iron Maiden
DISC THREE: Shipping Forecast (BBC Radio 4) Read by Eugene Fraser
DISC FOUR: I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For - U2
DISC FIVE: Dizzy - The Wonder Stuff and Vic Reeves
DISC SIX: The Gambler - Kenny Rogers
DISC SEVEN: One Day Like This - Elbow
DISC EIGHT: Rockaway Beach - Motörhead
BOOK CHOICE: The Apollo Guidance Computer: Architecture and Operation by Frank O'Brien
LUXURY ITEM: A pinball machine
CASTAWAY'S FAVOURITE: One Day Like This - Elbow
Desert Island Discs 