Somer Strategy 2035
News
Strategy 2035: The SOMER Store
Wednesday, 1 April, 2026BSU has officially launched its new Strategy 2035. To mark the launch, we’re exploring how the University embodies professional creativity throughout our campuses and initiatives, through a series of features on the BSU community.
Future Fashion Works (FFW), BSU’s flagship initiative for sustainable fashion, enterprise, and community engagement, launched SOMER in June 2025 as a new retail and enterprise space in Bath’s historic shopping area, showcasing creations by students, graduates, staff, and local brands.
Since its opening, SOMER has made a name for itself on Bath’s retail scene, including being named a finalist for Retailer of the Year at the Bath Life Awards, and embedding many of its projects into the BSU curriculum across a wide range of degree courses, acting as a live industry environment.
Building a reputation for sustainable, ethically, and independently produced products, the store has become a central hub for creativity in the city, delivering on Future Fashion Works’ mission to support responsible fashion practice and local creative enterprise, hosting workshops and events with leading fashion-industry professionals and supporting BSU talent to grow their businesses in an authentic high-street environment.
Designed as a direct pathway from study to industry, SOMER’s ‘Open Call for Talent’ invited BSU students, graduates and alumni to become part of a live retail environment, not just as contributors but as collaborators in building the business.
Drawing in talent from across the University, the project brings together a team of graduates working across retail, marketing, buying and research, each contributing to decision-making and playing an active role in shaping the business within a supported framework.
In this way, SOMER operates not only as a shop but as a functioning model for how students and graduates are developed into industry-ready professionals, gaining confidence, experience, and agency through real-world practice, directly delivering on Future Fashion Works’ aim to nurture emerging talent and connect creative education with industry.
With hundreds of shoppers passing through the store, its day-to-day operation is sustained by a skilled team whose contributions underpin both the customer experience and the development of the business.
Poppi Carter graduated from BSU’s BA Fashion Marketing and Management degree, before stepping into her current role as General Manager at Somer, although her journey into the position began while she was still a student.
Poppi connected with the Future Fashion Works project through a module-led event. Seizing the opportunity to build valuable relationships that would later shape her career at Somer, she invited Strategic Lead, Tamara Parsons-Baker and Fashion Business Manager, Jessica Hannan, to visit Newton Park to speak with students about FFW’s portfolio of work, including the launch of SOMER.
Throughout her course, Poppi developed a strong understanding of how to build and adapt a brand in response to industry insights and customer feedback. Highlighting the importance of retail within the fashion industry and noting how closely it aligns with marketing, she said:
“My course taught me how to best develop a brand in response to industry insights and customer feedback. Retail is such an important part of the fashion industry at so many levels and really goes hand in hand with fashion marketing, as you gain such invaluable experience by actually getting to speak with customers and understand their wants and needs.”
Discussing what she values most about working at SOMER, Poppi said:
“My favourite thing about working with SOMER is the opportunity it has provided me to put my degree into action so soon after graduation. I get to still be supported by the university and all its resources, but also work within the wider Bath community, supporting local makers and meeting the people who actively work to make a difference, helping people discover the talent the South West has to offer.”
Faith McLean studied BA Fashion Design at BSU and has since brought her skills directly into her role as a Business Support Officer and Fashion Researcher at Future Fashion Works.
Faith’s degree equipped her with a strong set of transferable skills, which she has since adapted into her multifaceted role. Although not specifically trained as a fashion buyer, her background in trend and market research has enabled her to take academic knowledge learned at BSU into a hands-on workspace.
Discussing her job, Faith said:
“I love that we’re encouraged to help with various day to day tasks that ensure the business runs smoothly. I’m learning as I go, which in turn helps me realise new skills I might not have pursued otherwise.”
At the core of BSU's employability objectives, FFW is continuing to connect students with the fashion industry, offering opportunities for post-graduate outcomes by creating ongoing student work placements and roles. To find out more about FFW and the opportunities available, connect with the team at ffw@bathspa.ac.uk.