Greg Jackson, the outspoken founding father of Octopus Vitality, has been appointed by Prime Minister Keir Starmer to hitch the Cupboard Workplace board as a non-executive adviser, giving him an influential function on the coronary heart of presidency.
The appointment marks a major transfer to carry non-public sector experience into Whitehall decision-making. Jackson, whose vitality provider has grown from a start-up in 2015 to an organization valued at £9 billion, is predicted to make use of his three-year time period to problem conventional pondering and push for modernisation throughout authorities.
Jackson has constructed a popularity for being unafraid to conflict with policymakers. Solely weeks in the past ministers rejected his proposal to separate the nationwide vitality market into regional zones, arguing it could have left households within the South East paying extra whereas chopping payments in Scotland.
He defended the plan as a solution to higher align electrical energy costs with native provide and demand, encouraging energy-intensive industries to relocate to renewable-rich areas corresponding to Scotland and stimulating additional inexperienced funding.
Though the coverage was dropped, Jackson stated he would “respectfully disagree” with the choice, signalling his willpower to proceed urgent for reforms.
As a non-executive member of the Cupboard Workplace board, Jackson will present exterior enter to assist civil servants and ministers form long-term technique and implementation. His appointment is a part of a wider drive to herald experience from enterprise and trade to enhance the supply of public providers.
Jackson has already change into a well-recognized face in Westminster. Official data present he and Octopus colleagues held 10 conferences with senior Labour ministers within the 12 weeks following the final election.
Talking after his appointment, Jackson stated: “Having been introduced up with a way of civic obligation, I’m actually proud to have the prospect to contribute to public service. Discovering methods to enhance providers with out spending extra is vital to public providers, the financial system and our society, and if by way of enterprise I’ve realized classes on know-how, supply and organisation that may be helpful to authorities, it’s an honour to share these.”
A former head of the Labour Listing stress group, Jackson’s political connections and enterprise observe report make him a high-profile addition to Starmer’s advisory circle. With vitality coverage and public service reform excessive on the federal government’s agenda, his presence on the board is predicted to form pondering effectively past the vitality sector.
