[2] Campbell, a Middlesex University graduate in psychology,[3] worked as a Senior Planner within the Strategy and Service Development (formally Marketing and Planning) directorate of London Underground before applying to appear on the show.

[5][6] An hour-long documentary about Campbell's first year in his new job, entitled The Apprentice: Tim in the Firing Line, was aired on 19 February 2006, a few days before the launch of series 2.

[11] In autumn 2006, Campbell held a series of one-to-one advice sessions for budding entrepreneurs organised by the British Library's Business & Intellectual Property Centre.

[16][17] The programme is led by the Social Enterprise Coalition[18] and supported by the Office of the Third Sector, a Government department responsible for charities, co-operatives, voluntary and community groups.

[19] It was announced in the 2012 New Years Honours List that Campbell was to be made a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) for Services to Enterprise Culture.