BSU Graduates Win Business Award
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BSU graduates win prestigious business award
Monday, 17 November, 2025The 2025 The Business Exchange Awards took place on 6 November, celebrating the best of local businesses from across the South West. At the second annual awards, fourteen categories were awarded on the night, from Best Start-Up to Rising Star in the industry. It was Best Start-Up business that held the most significance though, as three Bath Spa University graduates won the award, for their golf apparel business, Stanners Golf.
The company was founded in 2024, by Business and Management (Economics) graduate, Sam Jeans, Film, TV and Digital Production graduate, Luke Peters, and Biology graduate, Ben Burrows.
Speaking on the win, co-founders Luke, Ben, and Sam said:
“We’re so proud (and still a little bit shocked) to have been named Best Start-Up Business 2025 at the TBE Awards South-West. Stanners Golf began with a simple idea: to make golf more sustainable, inclusive, and forward-thinking. Being recognised alongside such inspiring businesses feels surreal and is something we’ll never forget. We’ve only reached this point because of the people who’ve backed us, from those wearing our products to those who’ve followed along and supported our social media growth.”
Despite all studying different degrees at BSU, Luke, Ben, and Sam set time aside to grow Stanners Golf, as well as progressing in their personal careers:
“Since graduating from Bath Spa in 2024, the journey has been full-on. Stanners has always been a priority for us, but we knew it was important to continue building our own careers too — not only for personal development, but also to provide stability while the business grows. Ben has since completed his Master’s in Haematology, Sam is progressing through the ICAEW ACA qualification with a goal of completing all 14 exams by 2027, and Luke has begun pursuing freelance work in film and media. Balancing those commitments with a start-up hasn’t been easy, but it has allowed us to keep momentum at Stanners while still supporting ourselves.”
It has been hard work to juggle progressing the business, whilst pursuing their own goals, but their passion for their brand means that they remain focused on developing their business:
“Working full-time and navigating the shift from university life has been a challenge. Late nights spent researching sustainable materials or growing our audience organically have become the norm. But with consistency, and a genuine passion for creating a more responsible future for golf, we’ve shown that graduates can build something of their own straight out of uni.”
Graduating in 2024, the co-founders are thankful for the support they received from BSU:
“The support from Bath Spa’s Enterprise Team, and more recently the Business Management School, has played a key role in helping us register Stanners Golf as a Limited company and make smart decisions around scaling without sacrificing equity. We’re incredibly grateful for the backing we’ve received and excited to continue sharing our progress as Stanners grows.”
Their hard work has paid off, and they have been recognised as the Best Start-Up business in the South West for 2025, and they hope to grow Stanners Golf even further.
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