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.
Greg Jackson emphasizes the importance of drive, risk-taking, and taking action, rather than just wishing for a different life.
Greg Jackson highlights his commitment to customer service, innovative solutions, and providing affordable, clean energy for a sustainable future.
Deep dives
Greg Jackson: From Bedroom Coder to Energy Innovator
Greg Jackson, the founder and CEO of Octopus Energy, reflects on his journey from growing up in a single parent family with financial struggles to becoming a successful entrepreneur. He highlights the importance of drive and taking risks, emphasizing that wishing for a different life is not enough. Jackson's innovative approach in the energy sector has led to the development of groundbreaking technology, including the Kraken operating system. He also shares his commitment to customer service and providing innovative solutions, such as giving away electric blankets during the energy crisis.
Early Years and Personal Challenges
Jackson discusses his early years living in Germany and the impact of his parents' divorce. He credits his mother's resilience for instilling a sense of independence and freedom within him. Jackson recalls the financial struggles they faced, with bills often being cut off due to unpaid demands. Despite these challenges, he emphasizes the importance of his mother's emotional support and the transformative impact of therapy.
Education, Entrepreneurship, and Lessons Learned
Jackson shares his experiences as a young entrepreneur, leaving school at 16 to work as a bedroom coder for a games manufacturer. He later returned to education and studied economics at Cambridge. Reflecting on his journey, he emphasizes the importance of understanding customers' needs and the value of failure in learning and improving. Jackson's time as a managing director of a mirror company also taught him the significance of attention to detail and customer preferences.
Octopus Energy: Disrupting the Energy Market
Jackson explains his motivation for entering the energy market, highlighting the outdated systems and lack of innovation. He expresses his optimism about the future of renewable energy and the potential for electric cars and long-distance cables to revolutionize the industry. Despite Octopus Energy's profitability challenges, Jackson remains focused on providing affordable, clean energy solutions and creating a sustainable future.
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
Presenter Lauren Laverne
Producer Paula McGinley
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