How One Entrepreneur Is Helping CEOs Future-Proof Their Energy Strategy

As energy volatility continues to rattle the bottom lines of UK businesses, a new wave of CEOs are turning away from traditional energy providers and toward independent operators who offer more than just lower prices—they offer control.

At the centre of this shift is Grant Nicholson, founder of Pharaoh Capital, and a man quietly becoming one of the most in-demand figures in the UK's renewable energy sector.

Nicholson's pitch to CEOs and boards is disarmingly simple: Lock in long-term energy savings, improve ESG performance, and spend zero capital upfront. His firm's privately-funded solar installations are removing the financial and operational friction that has kept solar power off the agenda for many large commercial energy users—until now.

Solving the CFO's Dilemma

For years, finance directors have wrestled with the same conundrum: Decarbonising operations means major capital outlay, uncertain ROI, and long lead times. Many solar providers have only added to the problem—offering bloated quotes, unclear timelines, or subsidy-dependent business models that fail to inspire board-level confidence.

Pharaoh Capital's model removes all of that. By providing fully-funded, zero-CAPEX solar installations through long-term Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), the company offers clients an immediate reduction in energy bills without any upfront cost. From day one, businesses are cashflow-positive on energy.

With energy prices more volatile than ever, Nicholson's fixed-rate PPAs offer executives a rare advantage: cost predictability.

'What we're offering isn't some tech experiment,' says Nicholson. 'It's a financial instrument. Our clients want certainty, margin protection, and clean energy credentials. We give them all three.'

In a landscape dominated by energy unpredictability and ESG box-ticking, Pharaoh's proposition speaks to the core concerns of modern executive teams: risk, cost, and reputation.

From Outsider to Operator of Choice

Nicholson isn't new to energy—or adversity. A self-made entrepreneur, he built and sold multiple businesses across the sector, including a successful LED lighting firm that counted Wembley Stadium among its clients, and an energy trading algorithm licensed to a Far East hedge fund. But not all ventures were smooth sailing.

In 2020, his previous energy brokerage collapsed in what he describes as a 'corporate hit job' by a large supplier looking to dominate the market. The experience could have buried most founders. Instead, Nicholson used it as fuel—re-emerging with sharper focus and a business model built to outperform both the cowboys and the corporates.

That comeback led to Pharaoh Capital—a company that hit £22 million ($31 million) in revenue in its first year, without raising external equity, government subsidies, or blowing cash on vanity marketing.

'I built Pharaoh to be lean, credible, and aggressive,' says Nicholson. 'There's a middle ground in this market that nobody's owning—between the back-of-a-van installers and the bureaucratic, bloated giants. That's where we play.'

Today, the firm is actively rolling out across the UK, securing deals with multi-site operators, logistics companies, commercial landlords, and regional developers who want the benefits of solar—without the burden.

ESG With Teeth, Not Tokens

As ESG rises up the corporate agenda, many CEOs are realising that most 'green' solutions are more fluff than function. Pharaoh flips that script.

The company helps clients cut carbon emissions and generate measurable impact without diverting capital from core business growth. It's an ESG play with teeth—built on bottom-line impact, not marketing spin.

'Grant's approach stood out,' said one client, a CEO of a national logistics firm. 'We needed a solution that didn't drain the balance sheet. Pharaoh delivered it in under six weeks.'

This speed of execution is becoming one of Pharaoh's greatest assets. Many competitors in the space overpromise and delay. Nicholson's team focuses on deal velocity and operational precision, allowing boards to see results fast—with none of the usual ESG fatigue.

De-Risking the Future

Pharaoh's model also delivers a level of future-proofing many CEOs now demand. With fixed-rate solar PPAs that lock in discounted energy rates for 10–25 years, clients are protected against the chaos of market spikes, geopolitical shocks, and policy shifts.

It's not just about clean energy. It's about locking in margin.

'When I pitch, I don't talk about saving the planet,' Nicholson adds. 'I talk about margin protection, IRR, and risk control. The sustainability piece is the cherry on top—but if the deal doesn't make financial sense, we don't do it.'

This pragmatic approach is winning Pharaoh attention from debt providers, institutional partners, and even global investors who are eager to back a UK renewables firm that blends sharp execution with investor-grade returns.

Why CEOs Are Finally Taking the Call

In a world filled with buzzwords, it's Nicholson's no-BS tone that sets him apart. He isn't trying to be liked—he's trying to win. And he's doing it by speaking the boardroom's language.

Where others sell solar, Pharaoh sells certainty. Where others sell green dreams, Pharaoh delivers economic reality.

And in a climate where risk management has never been more vital, that distinction matters.

The Bottom Line

Pharaoh Capital isn't just a solar firm. It's a strategic weapon for commercial operators looking to de-risk energy, boost ESG credibility, and protect their margins, without touching their balance sheet.

Grant Nicholson's rise isn't just another founder story. It's the emergence of a new kind of energy entrepreneur—one who understands finance, fights for deals, and delivers operational value with ruthless efficiency.

The energy crisis may not be over. But for CEOs looking to build resilience into their business, Nicholson and his team at Pharaoh Capital offer something few others can: Speed, certainty, and a future-proof energy strategy that actually adds up.