James Timpson OBE is a British businessman and politician who is currently Minister of State for Prisons, Probation and Reducing Reoffending. From 2002 until 2024 he was the CEO of the five-generation, family-owned company Timpson, which includes many of the UK’s best-known high street retailers. In addition to leading an organisation of 5,600 staff across 2,000 locations, James was Chair of the Prison Reform Trust and regularly advised figures across the private and public sectors. He is the father to three adult children and lives in Cheshire with his wife, Roisin. The Happy Index is his first book and all of his earnings will be given to the Prison Reform Trust.
‘The way that he operates is the way I’d like the whole world to operate’ – Jake Humphrey, host of The High Performance Podcast ‘Timpson has long set the standard as a thoughtful employer. This book explains the secrets to its success. A must-read for anyone who cares about better ways of doing business’ – Oliver Shah, Sunday Times ‘These lessons give you the tools to a brighter, happier workplace' – Roisin Currie, CEO of Greggs ‘Continually going above and beyond, The Happy Index is a beacon of hope for businesses everywhere’ – Julian Richer, entrepreneur and author of The Ethical Capitalist ‘Not only do Timpson look after their own people, but they also genuinely care about helping others in need’ – Sir Tom Hunter, philanthropist and entrepreneur 'Proves that businesses can be a force for positive change in our communities' – Pia Sinha, CEO of Prison Reform Trust ‘Timpson is a very special British family business that has much to teach all of us about building a welcoming and winning culture that always puts people first. This book is a great guide to how you can do the same.’ – Richard Walker OBE