Why Timpson uses Mr Men characters to recruit staff

Mr Happy? Mr Greedy? Little Miss Sunshine? Which Mr Men character would you say represents you the most?

An unconventional interview question, but one which has proved successful for Timpson, who recruits staff based on which Mr Men character they say represents them.

Explaining the method behind using Roger Hargreaves’ children’s books as interview inspiration, John Timpson, who leads the shoe repair and key-cutting high street firm, says Timpson interviews purely for personality.

In an interview with the BBC, Timpson, who has run the company for the past 42 years and holds the role of Chairman, says that while you can train someone to do a job, you cannot train their personality.