[2] He began his professional career as a management trainee at Clarks, before moving on to become a shoe buyer for his family's business, William Timpson Ltd., in 1965.

[1] He was appointed a director of Timpson in 1968, and remained with the company after his father Anthony was ousted as chairman five years later, at which point it was acquired for £28,600,000 by United Drapery Stores.

[3] After leading a management buyout, Timpson was himself installed as the firm's chairman in 1985.

[10] He was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2004 Birthday Honours for services to the retail sector,[11] and was knighted in the 2017 Birthday Honours for services to business and fostering.

[12][13] Timpson's aunt, Dame Kathleen Ollerenshaw, who died in 2014 aged 101, was a former Lord Mayor of Manchester, a Freeman of the City and a mathematician, and has been described as "one of the most distinguished Mancunians of her era".