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When kindness gets you everywhere This is James Timpson OBE. Yesterday he was appointed as the Prisons Minister in the new UK Government. But you might know him better as the James Timpson whose family owns the famous chain of Timpsons on every High Street in the UK. James is the CEO of Timpsons, a business that has been in his family for over 150 years. He helped grow Timpsons to over 2100 shops, and developed several innovative ways to run the business at a time when traditional High Street retailing has suffered. The key to the growth of the business has been the culture that James has pioneered, based on trust and kindness. Employee benefits such as free holiday homes, a Dreams Come True scheme, weekly Lotteries and mental health support has ensured Timpsons has been one of the UK’s best companies to work. On this James said: "I work on the principle that you are much better off running a business based on trust rather than running a business based on control. And I’m also of the view that no one is more important than anybody else." James pioneered the recruitment of ex-offenders, to the extent that Timpsons now employs over 600 prison leavers (this is over 10% of the Company). "What I’ve learnt is that some of those best people happen to be in prison and they find it very difficult to find a job. When you do give them a job they become the most loyal hardworking honest people you've got." When asked to define his business he said; "Our whole business is based on a culture of trust and kindness." And unusually, here is someone who doesn't just mouth clichés but actually practices this in a tangible way. And as a result marrying kindness and commercial success. Proper leadership. I'm excited to see what James can bring into public life and service, I think it's a really bold appointment. I'll be wishing him nothing but success in this really difficult area. #WeRiseByLiftingEachOther
Timpson Group, also offered free dry cleaning for the unemployed so that they looked their best for interviews - not many do this and so to see another gift is something. Definitely a rare group, if ethos at the top is "no one is more important than anyone else"
Sal Naseem FRSA YES, a thoroughly decent and committed individual. We need more wonderful people like Sir James. A fantastic appointment for a very important area of work that I was formerly involved with. The critical issue of long term effective rehabilitation of Offenders is crucial for everyone in society. Sir James and his company have been tirelessly at the FOREFRONT of that for many years. I have come across people in the Timpsons shops and outlets who have turned their lives around away from crime because of the visionary work by Sir James. Good Luck to Sir James in his future role. PS. Please think about supporting rehabilitation efforts by occasionally shopping at your a local Timpsons near you.
Agreed Sal. The episode of The High Performance podcast with him is a fascinating and insightful listen for any leader that hasn’t heard it. Lots of takeaways of how we can all lead better through compassion and duty of care to those we’re responsible for. I’ve never understood leaders who don’t understand that putting people first generates a culture which supports high performance delivery.
How truly heartening! Sal Naseem FRSA thank you for such a happy post this morning. Rooting for him to make a huge impact. Timpsons is not only inspirational as an employer, its staff’s service ethic is impeccable. That comes from true leadership, starting from James’ father William Timpson. He and his wife adopted and fostered over 90 children - and James would have seen how troubled backgrounds can lead to real grit and backbone if nurtured with love and discipline. Whoever is listening in government - fund this vital work properly!
Truly, this is perhaps the first government appointment that has prevailed over my innate cynicism. The prison system is profoundly broken for those working in it and those subjected to it. Sir James engages with lived experience and doesn't write people off because they're so-called 'offenders'. I'm cautiously optimistic. 🙏
This appointment made me cry - so thoughtful and a signifier of things that can be done differently
I’ve always been in awe of Sir James Timpson’s work ethos, it could have very easily backfired but he wholeheartedly wanted to do good!! His new appointment will no doubt be postive within the prison space.
XYchromosome Guy/Adult Human Male A No Nonsense Head of Operations, Contract/Project Manager, Property Developer & Farmer
2wJames is brilliant. He is so direct and upfront and kind- everything he does, he does with kindness and he is the same every time I have met him. I am super excited to see how much positive change he can bring. The down side is, can what he wants to do be achieved - I mean this because either as a result of finances not being available or him not being allowed to achieve what he wants to. I know though, no matter what, James will improve HMPPS and it will be for the betterment of staff but moreover, those in the system. He has always seen the positives to those inside the system and knows first hand the negatives of how the system screws people. I wish James all the very best in his wonderfully suited new role.