When it all started, did you think you could win The Apprentice?

I did. It may sound a bit arrogant but I thought and believed that I had as good a chance as any of the other contestants and I was as good as any of them in that environment. The beauty of the Apprentice is that we were all on a level playing field, so previous contacts and experience counted for little in an environment where your determination to succeed was the essential currency. It shows that under everything we are all the same and that our focus and determination in given situations differentiates us and our outcomes.

Rumour has it, Amstrad's Brentwood offices aren't as impressive as The Apprentice's set?

The Brentwood offices are functional and for me, coming from London Underground where I was sharing an office, they are more than adequate. All I need is a computer and a phone and I can work anywhere. I think the priority is the work not the flower pots!

Do you think a reality TV show attracts people with the best skills for business?

I think the best business brains will be too focused on their businesses to worry about applying for a TV show. However those who do (did) apply may want to be challenged to see if they have what it takes to impress Sir Alan.

What are you up to at the moment?

I am currently heading up the Health & Beauty division at Amstrad Plc as Project Director of Integra Skincare, my first product.

Tell me about your latest product. What's the reaction been like?

The Integra Face Care System is a beauty treatment giving customers a beauty salon treatment in the comfort of their own home whilst reducing the appearance of lines and wrinkles in just four weeks. It's a tried and tested method to bring out the best your skin has to offer. And combined with a four week no-quibble money back guarantee we are really confident about the System and more importantly so are our customers. The reaction to date has been fantastic. We have received some brilliant press articles in publications like the Express, Femail in the Daily Mail and Glamour Magazine online to name but a few. I have also just come back from the Vitality Show in Olympia which was brilliant as I got to meet my customers and spread the awareness of our brand further a field.

What's it like working for Sir Alan, and how are you helping Amstrad to develop?

Working for the man himself is amazing. Sir Alan is a fantastic force who has several companies under his belt and a lot of cash to boot. I wanted to learn from him about how he did it and to develop as a business person. Getting the opportunity to work closely with Sir Alan has focused me and increased my aspirations. Don't get me wrong, he can be as harsh as he is on the television, but only when it is required. You know where you stand with him.

With my division Amstrad is now selling directly to customers as opposed to B2B as they do normally. Also the company has now moved into a new market - Health & Beauty which is a sizable market with huge potential. I'm helping Amstrad to continue to push the boundaries of consumer electronics. It's a nice feeling!

Do you have any plans to set up your own business?

Eventually, I would love to establish a social enterprise which is focused at kids of all ages, cultures and creeds, but for the meantime it is about solidifying Integra's place in beauty market and making the company as successful as it can be.

How has your family handled your success?

They love it, my mum especially. She has told the whole world I am her son! They are all very proud of me but it is clear that I am just Tim. Home is where I can unwind and not have to worry about anything.

What made you want to leave your job as a London Underground manager?

I needed a new challenge. I had joined as a graduate trainee and had spent seven good years there, learning and developing. But I wanted more and then the Apprentice came along which was an opportunity I couldn't turn down.

How has your BSc in Psychology become useful in your job?

To a degree (pardon the pun), the elements I studied on Organisation Psychology have been useful in regards to culture, change and working relationships but I have found the transferable skills of project management and planning have been much more useful on a day to day basis.

How do you relax when you're way from the job?

I love running and martial arts as they both are brilliant at getting rid of the stresses of the day. The best way for relaxing for me is playing with my daughter. Her fresh view of the world is brilliant and allows me to forget everything aside from her.

What changes have you made in your life since you started the job?

Not many. My outlook on the world and how it 'works' from a business perspective has changed as a result of working in the private sector. But my life outside of work has remained fairly stable as the TV has changed who I am. I have invested in a few nice suits and treated the family to gifts, but nothing extravagant.

What have been the upsides/downsides?

The downsides have been the time away from the family. Working long hours to ensure deadlines were always met meant that some times I wouldn't see Kayla awake as I would leave early and come home late. Having to be away from my fiancée Jasmine was difficult too. But the upsides have been great. Actually starting my own division at Amstrad and having my contract extended after a year was great and experiences that have taught me a huge amount and will stay with me forever. Being able to show my daughter that anything is possible is fantastic!

After you won The Apprentice, one journalist said: 'Tim will be long remembered when many other winners have come and gone. The nature and significance of his win is not yet understood but television history has been made in this country, especially for the ripple effect it will have in all communities; one that will be difficult to match in the future'. How do you think your win effected the black community?

I think the impact for the black community was huge. With so many negative stereotypes about our community, having just a normal contestant on the TV was seen as an achievement but to actually go on and win was massive. Shaun Wallace who won Mastermind had a similar effect. More importantly, it was a success in the business arena and not the normal sporting field where a lot of black success is focused upon. Although I am very proud I don't see what I achieved as particularly big. But it is not about me, it is about what the win means, the empowerment it signifies and the change that it will hopefully have on people's aspirations and perceptions.

As a black man in the business world, you said in an interview with The Times that you have to work 'twice as hard' to make it. Have you faced any prejudice since you entered the business world?

Creative journalism again, me thinks. In context, what I actually said was that the impression is that people from an ethnic minority background have to work twice as hard when in fact I think we just have to work smarter. In the business world you just have to understand the 'rules of engagement' and then navigate your path with in them always focusing on your particular goal. I have experienced prejudice but have used it to fuel my desire to move up the career ladder. I requested feedback after being turned down for a position I had applied for and was told that they couldn't understand my motivation for the position as I had more qualifications than were necessary for the post. I could. I wanted more money! To have that used as a reason for not getting the job hurt. But instead of banging my head against the wall (that hurts if you've ever tried it!) I went around that department, sidestepped and in a year was earning more than the person who had turned me down. How we react to situations and the choices we make can really determine how quickly we reach our goals. I used the experience to drive me on as opposed to getting depressed about it. But for some it is not that easy.

What are your future goals?

In the short-to-medium term I am focussing on the Integra Face Care System and making sure the division is as strong as it can be. Eventually I want to take all that I have learnt and make my own name in the business arena but its finding that idea that has enough passion for me to take the plunge. I have a massive desire to help people particularly children and young adults but it's formulating a successful business model around it that is going to provide for the family which is the hard part! The main goal is to stay smiling.

Finally, who has impressed you in the latest season of The Apprentice?

I like Ruth and Ansell as they deliver.

For further information on the Integra Face Care System:

www.integra-skincare.co.uk