Inside Octopus Energy

In this insightful conversation, Greg Jackson, the CEO and founder of Octopus Energy, shares his bold choice to run a multi-billion-pound company without a traditional HR department. He emphasizes empowering managers to take on HR roles, fostering a culture of trust and open communication. Joined by Jacob Morgan, a futurist and author, they discuss the impact of language on leadership and the importance of redefining HR to promote employee responsibility and engagement. Together, they explore innovative practices that prioritize empowerment and a people-centered approach.

Host Russell Goldsmith welcomes Rachel Fletcher to Octopus Energy and chats about why she left her role as CEO of UK water regulator Ofwat to become our new Director of Regulation and Economics. Rachel also explains what her role will involve and what it means to the business.

This special episode introduces the team who recently launched Octopus Energy US in Texas, just days before the State was hit by one of the worst winter storms it had seen in 100 years. Host Russell Goldsmith was joined by Octopus Energy US CEO, Michael Lee, the US Head of Marketing, Natasha Crowe and Operations Lead, Kelly Rankine, who had only just moved to Texas a few months beforehand, having previously worked with Octopus Energy in the UK. Michael, Natasha and Kelly talked about how some of the team experienced the frightening impact of storm firsthand, how the marketing team pivoted to become the front line of customer service and what part renewables and companies like Octopus Energy can play to avoid such dire events in the future.

In this episode of Inside Octopus Energy, we focus on growth and what it takes to go from zero to over 1.8 million customers in just four years. Hosts Russell & Trudy were joined by our Chief Financial Officer and Co-Founder, Stuart Jackson, who talked through everything from bringing on board our first customers, through managing the rapid scaling of the business, to future plans on how to continue the successful growth of the company. We also hear from Claire Osborne, energy consultant & Founder of The Mindset Society, who focuses on Start-up to Scale-up coaching. Claire is currently working with Octopus but her background includes two years leading the energy business for the comparison site, uSwitch, just around the time of Octopus Energy’s launch, so we were keen to hear her perspectives on the market at the time and the impact we’ve had in the market.

Gilly Ames, a front-end developer specializing in Kraken's API, and Ruby Mitchell, a senior operations manager, discuss the groundbreaking technology behind Octopus Energy's services. They share insights into the platform’s evolution and how it enhances operational efficiency. The duo highlights the transition from manual to automated systems, fostering a nurturing workplace culture. With a focus on user experience and trust, they aim to positively influence climate change while supporting a diverse client base through innovative self-service features.

This special episode was recorded after the UK Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, and Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, visited Octopus Energy's London offices to talk about the future of renewable energy, hear our announcement of 1,000 jobs and a new technology centre in Manchester, England. Russell Goldsmith was joined by Octopus Energy Founder & CEO, Greg Jackson and Clem Cowton, the company’s Director of External Affairs to discuss the background to the visit, how and why we made it happen, what was discussed, what it means for the business and what changes it could bring.

Following on from our previous episode's discussion around our company culture, we decided to take a step back and record what feels like a bit of a prequel - hence why we called it Episode 0! Hosts Trudy & Russell welcome back our CEO, Greg Jackson, to find out more about why he set up the business in 2015, his plans moving forward, and how on track we are to realising his vision. Greg talks us through how he scoped the business, why the name Octopus, his expectations for growth, the kind of business he wanted to build from the start, in terms of service expectation from customers, as well as his plans for the future.

Curious about company culture? The hosts chat with the CEO about Octopus Energy's evolution, emphasizing collaboration and innovation. They explore how a decentralized structure fosters creative freedom and accountability while welcoming new team members. There's a focus on learning from mistakes and the unique management style that enhances communication. The discussion also touches on the company's commitment to environmental and social initiatives, reinforcing its identity in the clean energy space. Perfect insights for aspiring employees and partners!