Project: Area Manager New Leader Programme

Background and Motivation

Octopus Energy is known for its exceptional customer service and fast-paced growth in the energy sector. With a rapidly expanding team, Octopus recently restructured their workforce, combining separate regional teams focused on specific services (such as smart meter installations, solar arrays, and EV charging). This restructuring required a new layer of management, with engineers promoted to area managers overseeing these teams. To ensure consistent, effective leadership across their four UK regions, Octopus sought a trusted training partner to elevate these new managers’ skills to meet their business needs.

The Challenge

Octopus Energy’s restructuring presented a unique set of challenges. Many of the newly promoted area managers, while technically skilled, had limited experience in leadership roles. They needed training that covered essential management skills like team motivation, handling difficult conversations, and setting clear objectives.

Additionally, Octopus Energy’s pace required a training provider who could mobilise quickly and match the organisation’s energetic and agile culture. Fortunately, that’s exactly how we work. Our Head of Learning and Development jumped straight on a call with the booking team and ran a complementary Insights taster to showcase the dynamic Jarrold Training approach.

Our Approach

Jarrold Training stepped in to design and deliver a bespoke training programme that met Octopus Energy’s specific requirements. Key elements of our approach included:

• Leadership and Management Skills – We tailored a comprehensive two-day course focusing on core skills such as managing difficult conversations, setting SMART objectives, and understanding leadership styles. The training was built on Insights Discovery to promote self-awareness, which is essential for effective leadership.
• Interactive and Engaging Delivery – Moving beyond a standard classroom experience, we provided interactive sessions that included group discussions, team-building activities, and hands-on leadership exercises. This approach resonated well with Octopus’s dynamic culture, fostering greater engagement among participants.
• Agile and Responsive Support – Octopus Energy appreciated our flexibility and readiness to adapt. We quickly mobilised our resources to meet their schedule, providing immediate responses and arranging for training in the locations that suited their team, ensuring minimal disruption to their fast-paced operations.

The Results

• Average score: 9.7 out of 10
• Positive testimonials from attendees
• Continued training discussions

Feedback from all of the course attendees has resulted in a 9.7 out of 10, with all attendees citing how engaging and helpful they found the content.

Jarrold Training successfully delivered a bespoke leadership development programme for Octopus Energy, designed to equip area managers with practical tools and insights to lead effectively. The programme, tailored to Octopus Energy’s unique culture and fast-paced environment, focused on engagement and practical application, incorporating tools like Insights Discovery, SMART objectives, and leadership models.

Participants praised the engaging and interactive nature of the training, which stood out in contrast to other providers. The programme’s structure, coupled with Jarrold Training’s ability to connect with a robust and diverse audience, ensured its effectiveness and alignment with Octopus Energy’s goals.

The programme’s success has led to continued collaboration, with Octopus Energy requesting additional training for new groups, including a proposed course for surveyors. The ability to create tailored, in-house programmes that resonate with unique organisational cultures has been a defining strength of this project, showcasing Jarrold Training’s expertise in delivering impactful and engaging learning experiences.

The attendees said:

‘Really fun and insightful, learned a lot about myself and others.’

‘Course was engaging and well-led, even for a ‘classroomphobe’ like myself.’

‘I believe all leaders should do this to support self-awareness and adapt their approach to managing/leading/supporting people.’