James O'Brien meets James Timpson | LBC

"The best ideas don't come from the boardroom, the best ideas come from the frontline." James Timpson is the chief executive of Timpson, a family-run business known for its key cutting and watch repair services. James does business differently. His unconventional leadership style has raised eyebrows - but it works. Since taking over Timpson, he has grown the business to over 2,000 stores by developing new ideas, giving ex-prisoners a second chance and putting his employees first. He has published a book packed with leadership advice for a happier, healthy workforce. The Happy Index: Lessons in Upside-Down Management is out now.
#Jamesobrien #jamestimpson #LBC
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[@stephenayeni992]

Congratulations Timpson for your new cabinet role

[@revbenf6870]

I recently went into the Timpson shop in Sutton Coldfield (in case James is reading this) looking for batteries for my two car key fobs. The store manager found the right batteries for me and I went home to fit them. Having done so they didn't appear to work, and I walked back to the store and suggested the batteries were duds. He took both fobs and had a little gadget to rest them and said they both worked. He then went on to suggest that they may have become unsynched from the car and told me about videos on KZbin that showed how to sort it. He was very calm very helpful and with an excellent attitude. A credit to his company and his boss!!

[@thegeneticsgirl]

“I’m ambitious for prison reform” “That doesn’t count” That didn’t age well! Congratulations James

[@fang_xianfu]

1:00:50 "I'd be hopeless at that" - we'll see!

[@francescazaccaria1482]

What a wonderful thing to do ❤ we should all take example. Giving love to fellow humans who need kindness and deserve a chance.

[@bipolarminddroppings]

37:30 I was ents manager of a small independent holiday park. For years at Haven i wanted to get rid of bingo, because it drove our core audience (young couples with children) out of the room and they dont come back until the following night. I told the owner of the park "dont do bingo for the first month of the season, if the bar take doesnt go up by at least 10% then I will do bingo every night for the rest of the season. If it does, we bin it for until I dont work here any more" He said okay, but that he doubted it would make a difference. a month later he came to me and said "bar take is up 35% on last year," with a big smile on his face. Let the people who actually run the business, run the business.

[@paulmurphy8543]

What a fantastic person. Just goes to prove that you don't have to be "ruthless" to be successful. So many wise things to say

[@chester6343]

Charging £30+ for a watch battery is pretty ruthless if you ask me

[@mrow278]

​@chester6343 lifetime though, I've had a watch battery changed about 4 times from one £30 payment.

[@chester6343]

@@mrow278 you're aware of how much a battery costs right?

[@mrow278]

@chester6343 yeah, the watch is also airtight and waterproof, you aren't just paying for the battery.

[@chester6343]

@@mrow278 Mate you can get the exact same thing done at an indy for a fraction of the cost. That is called supporting your local.

[@nessie53]

What a wonderful example this man is to all of us. More power to his elbow.

[@OneEyedDronie]

One of the best you have done so far James O'... just love this guy.. he is going to be brilliant in Gov!

[@alan_davis]

Genuine bloke. Will do wonders for the prison system. Inspiring.

[@lizdocherty3067]

I worked with young unemployed people in Glasgow and this company offered some of them a job. They have really nice staff and have a great it was great to be involved with them.

[@Hannah-pk6iq]

Just read his book The Happy Index and now reading The Richer Way. Amazing men.

[@juliewatt1951]

Have wondered about this guy a few times, interesting to hear him. Well done to him for his work with prison reform trust & ensuring some kind of rehabilitation available as well as punishment in our jails

[@Squarepeg57]

I’m happy this guy has got his prisons and probation role in government. I think he’ll do a great job.

[@nelsonvh3033]

What a beautiful way of thinking James Timpson has….

[@geofthompson3844]

The difference between the tories and labour are so obvious and apparent. Caring about people. They want to make people's lives better, rather than simply wanting to squeeze out every bit of money from people.

[@Bickle121]

Genuine British hero

[@Masterfeedbackprod]

Giving this a thumbs up and a comment to bump it up the list given Jame timpson!s recent appointment i wanted to see what a kind of guy he was quick answer not a self serving Conservative

[@suharvey5786]

ending on the note that politics isn't for him is amusing ... never say never eh? What an asset to government he & Patrick Valence will be without any political party nonsense ... wise and adorable man.

[@ianrob4760]

I presume he knew at the time of this interview that Starmer had approached him for the position so had to be careful I guess !! What a great appointment he is though, seen his maiden speech in the lords. Finally an adult calm conversation about sentencing policy.

[@MrRailjunkie]

If only all employers were like you James.

[@SuperCannibas420]

Oooooo that was a banger!

[@skimmingstoness]

In Belfast Timpsons employed two murderers and violent housebreakers to cut keys in one of their branches. Both murderers were sacked so it shows even Timpsons have a limit to what convicts they will employ.

[@jherizs]

did you watch the video 😅

[@simondalling7489]

Not going to do political, and yet circumstances have changed. I think James with do very well as rests driven, with a track record of success.

[@doubledigital_]

no idae how i misses this but i wont lie this had me in tears and to know hes IN THE GOVERMENT wow gob smaked..

[@dannyquinn9128]

Learn to spell.

[@howarddavies1383]

Great interview as all james, can you leave a copy of the book on display so we know what is called

[@Lyndalewinder]

Brilliant video - very interesting

[@murrayeldred3563]

JO'B= Big ❤

[@JudePi-jx7yo]

Great for giving second chances. Copying keys seems like an interesting place to trust people though.

[@NextChapterRapper]

I’d like to know: under what contractual conditions are these people working? Do they have Union backing? Do they make minimum wage? It’s a global trend to make insane profits on underpaid prison labor so you’ll forgive me the inquiry.

[@JoQeZzZ]

It's not prison labor, these are people released from prison.

[@NextChapterRapper]

@@JoQeZzZ oh seriously? Ok so then are they on competitive wages? Because lots of ex cons are turned away soon as it comes up so their position on the market is horrible. That makes them vulnerable for underpayment.

[@chester6343]

Ask him about his pricing lol, it's insanely expensive, I'm surprised they're still in business to be honest

[@nelsonvh3033]

At least their employees are not on benefits while doing a 40hr work-week…the cheapest deal isnt always the best deal for society as a whole…think about it!

[@chester6343]

@@nelsonvh3033 by the way why doesn't Tim pay himself 14 million instead of 15 and give his employees a raise. Probably not though right.

[@nelsonvh3033]

@@chester6343 Ahhh now I understand, you re just envious. Well thats completely fine

[@marknicholson2281]

It’s unrealistic to recruit prisoners and not expect them to act like criminals on the battlefield. The biggest problem with recruiting is those the Tories gave the contracts to. Capita. A company that has failed on almost every contract they have been given. Yet like Fujitsu they still get more contracts! Why??? Lobbyists and donors.

[@michaelenglish2066]

jimmy you havent mentioned about the ramadam roits on london and macheester at edipark riot ??? why you not mentioned it on your show it that had been any other group football fans etc it would head line tipical !!! just typical

[@michaelenglish2066]

i would ring in but you talk over cut people off in mid flow at lleast let people finish there point than talk about it

[@robertallardice8119]

I don’t think this podcast is about that!

[@michaelenglish2066]

@@robertallardice8119 i think you missed my point ...that pod cast about that .. he,s forgot to do and hasnt mentioned it once in his show all week hhhmmm why would he not talk about asian islamist attack the police and in manchester they were fighting each other at edi in the park .also rioting i man hatton no a wisper from jimmy im always right obrian

[@calebjones9116]

@@michaelenglish2066 very ironic last name michael

[@nelsonvh3033]

maybe you try again with words actual people can actually understand

[@alrosano5786]

Brazilians have the best teeth 🦷 by far in the world the uk 🇬🇧 the worst by far , why ? Australian 🇦🇺? Not to worry there , no need!

[@alundavies1016]

I don’t know where your data is from, but it doesn’t match OECD rankings.

[@garygalt4146]

Always surprised yanks when I inform them British people teeth rank far better than Americans

[@DobbyClub06]

Shame that Timpson is a Tory :/

[@yetygf]

aged well

[@liamhegarty3220]

How much does Mr Timpson look like Sam Harris?