Nous

Nous, automated household bill management in the UK

Nous is a British service that presents itself as an AI-based tool for managing household bills. Its proposition is to monitor household contracts, research alternatives, check the small print and fill in forms on the user's behalf, so that they don't miss savings opportunities or overpay. The company operates in the UK and its team works from that country.

Services and areas covered

The service tracks contracts linked to the running of a home. The categories it covers include energy, broadband, mobile and mortgages. The company indicated that home and car insurance would be added soon. When it detects that a contract is about to expire or that a cheaper tariff exists, it proposes like-for-like deals with lower-cost providers and handles the switching process.

In the energy sector, Nous works with a select number of providers and recommends the one that best fits the household's preferences. Savings may come from a cheaper tariff or from switching rewards; in some cases, according to the company itself, savings are limited to those rewards. Nous also claims to have access to exclusive tariffs not available elsewhere.

How it works and plans

The service is structured on two levels. The free plan allows you to manage two services and one user account per household, with smart reminders and a choice of savings mode, and does not require card details. The paid Premium plan extends management to an unlimited number of services and user accounts within the same household, and includes WhatsApp chat support and cash rewards when switching providers. The company stated that the free tier can be used indefinitely, with no obligation to upgrade to the paid plan.

Access begins by entering your postcode, which suggests coverage organised by UK regions.

Activity data and reach

The company put the number of UK households using the service at more than 100,000 and the number of households that have benefited from its free offering at more than 375,000. It also noted that when members use Nous to save on their bills, the average saving amounts to £534. In its plan descriptions it mentioned typical savings of £310 for the free tier and £960 for Premium.

Origin and team

Nous was founded by Greg Marsh, Jon Rudoe and Glen Walker. The project began in March 2020, when Greg Marsh, while awaiting the birth of his second child, spent hours on the phone with an energy company after having been moved to a more expensive tariff. That experience gave rise to the idea of creating a service that would spare households the burden of reviewing and renegotiating contracts.

The leadership team combines experience in technology and consumer companies. Greg Marsh, CEO, was a venture capital investor at Index Ventures and founded the luxury accommodation marketplace onefinestay, which he led until its acquisition by Accor Hotels in 2016. Jon Rudoe, Commercial Director, worked at Sainsbury's, where he scaled the online business, and previously at Ocado and Bain. Glen Walker, COO, spent time at BNEF and McKinsey, worked with Marsh at onefinestay and co-founded the homewares marketplace Trouva. Sina Shamshiri, Chief Technology Officer, has more than fifteen years building engineering teams and holds a PhD in Software Engineering from the University of Sheffield. Jacob Hammond, Head of Product Design, worked at Mo, Tandem, Just, Disney and Carphone Warehouse. Michelle Stewart, Head of Finance, has more than fifteen years of experience in technology and finance, with time at Qogita, Engine by Starling, Arm and Citi.

Corporate structure and regulation

Nous is a trading name of Eighteen and a Half Limited, a British company. The company operates as an appointed representative of Stubben Edge & Partners, a firm authorised and regulated by the UK Financial Conduct Authority. Nous also presents itself as a certified B Corp.