Greg Jackson, the outspoken founder of Octopus Energy, has been appointed by Prime Minister Keir Starmer to join the Cabinet Office board as a non-executive adviser, giving him an influential role at the heart of government.
The appointment marks a significant move to bring private sector expertise into Whitehall decision-making. Jackson, whose energy supplier has grown from a start-up in 2015 to a company valued at £9 billion, is expected to use his three-year term to challenge traditional thinking and push for modernisation across government.
Jackson has built a reputation for being unafraid to clash with policymakers. Only weeks ago ministers rejected his proposal to split the national energy market into regional zones, arguing it would have left households in the South East paying more while cutting bills in Scotland.
He defended the plan as a way to better align electricity prices with local supply and demand, encouraging energy-intensive industries to relocate to renewable-rich regions such as Scotland and stimulating further green investment.
Although the policy was dropped, Jackson said he would “respectfully disagree” with the decision, signalling his determination to continue pressing for reforms.
As a non-executive member of the Cabinet Office board, Jackson will provide external input to help civil servants and ministers shape long-term strategy and implementation. His appointment is part of a wider drive to bring in expertise from business and industry to improve the delivery of public services.
Jackson has already become a familiar face in Westminster. Official records show he and Octopus colleagues held 10 meetings with senior Labour ministers in the 12 weeks following the general election.
Speaking after his appointment, Jackson said: “Having been brought up with a sense of civic duty, I’m really proud to have the chance to contribute to public service. Finding ways to improve services without spending more is key to public services, the economy and our society, and if through business I’ve learned lessons on technology, delivery and organisation that can be useful to government, it’s an honour to share those.”
A former head of the Labour List pressure group, Jackson’s political connections and business track record make him a high-profile addition to Starmer’s advisory circle. With energy policy and public service reform high on the government’s agenda, his presence on the board is expected to shape thinking well beyond the energy sector.
