“When we need to find new people, one of the main ways we find them is by going into the local prison.”

In this episode of Behind The Balance Sheet, I speak to Timpson's CEO James Timpson.

He tells me that the company wants to employ people with “amazing personalities” and plenty of former prisoners fit the bill (more than 10% of staff have been recruited from prisons). Alongside his role at Timpson, James is chair of the Prison Reform Trust.

Trust and kindness are regarded as crucial to how Timpson operates. The business favours upside-down management, trusting branch managers to run their shops as they see fit.

Despite recent expansion, the business is anything but corporate. There is a real sense of fun at Timpson’s offices in Wythenshawe, Manchester. A Director of Happiness ensures colleagues are happy at work.

Alongside the Timpson’s main cobblers and key cutting business, other chains owned by the company include Johnsons, Snappy Snaps and Max Spielmann.

Behind The Balance Sheet is a business podcast, presented by Julie-Anna Needham. Each episode features an interview with a founder or leader. We hear about their business, discover what inspires them and find out what keeps them awake at night.