Many hands make light work

Water and wastewater services in England and Wales face many challenges, including climate change and population growth. It will require transformational innovation to find solutions.

So what can we learn about transformational innovation in other sectors?

Octopus Energy is a UK energy company supplying gas and electricity. It supplies more than 750,000 UK homes. Launched in 2016, it calls itself an ‘energy industry disruptor’. It says it’s committed to ‘fair and transparent’ prices and to making things as simple as possible for its customers.

Greg Jackson is founder and CEO of Octopus Energy. He’s also a non-executive director of Zopa, the world’s first peer-to-peer lender, and Consultant Connect, bringing Consultant expertise to primary care, and an investor in several technology startups.

The full interview with Greg Jackson from Octopus Energy

Questions and answers with Greg – clips

Hi Greg. Can you tell us about Octopus Energy?

Why innovate?

You’re known as a disruptor in the energy market. How do you keep innovating?

Why are you so focused on customers?

What role does data play in helping you to innovate?

How does learning from others help you innovate?

Does regulation prevent innovation?

How important are having the right incentives to your business?

I understand you are ‘at arms length’ from your investors. What does this mean and why do you do it? What are the benefits?

You have started to provide heat sensors for customers with high energy bills. Why are you doing this?

How can companies overcome opposition and nervousness to innovation within an organisation?

What’s your biggest learning on your journey of innovation? What’s your 1 message?

What is next for Octopus Energy?

The challenges facing the water sector

Watch: Greg tells us about the challenges facing the water sector – as an outsider to the sector

 

Find out more about Octopus Energy – and follow Greg on twitter.

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