Olly’s story
As I move into the next stage of my career, there’s great comfort in knowing I’ll always have a great degree from a fantastic university – it feels like the world is my oyster.” Olly Watts
Law with Business and Management LLB (Hons)
“I’ve lived and breathed sport ever since I was a kid. I’ve been a member of Badminton England, played rugby competitively and recently moved into short-distance triathlon, so I’ve always hoped to channel my passion into a meaningful career.
I’m originally from the West Country, but my sister studied in Chichester, so we’d often meet up in Brighton to explore the beach and The Lanes. It felt so cosmopolitan and everyone was really friendly. When the time came to submit my UCAS application, only a handful of universities offered Law with Business and Management, and I was excited to see Sussex was one of them. I remember climbing up to the Freeman Building on an Open Day, and from that moment on, I was besotted.
At first, Backstreet Company was more like a hobby. We sold t-shirts, and sales were very modest, but a chance conversation with the Sussex Badminton team changed everything. They were unhappy with the quality of their kits, so I connected them to my shirt supplier. This planted a seed – by 2022, we were supplying 12 teams and signing sponsorship contracts with other universities. Now, we work with national governing bodies including Tennis England and supply 60 sports clubs across the UK.
The support and infrastructure for entrepreneurship at Sussex is phenomenal. I secured funding to grow my business through the Elevate Grant and Startup Sussex, and received so many networking opportunities. I met my investor through a pitching event at Platform Nine and connected with guest speakers like Ian Braid, the former CEO of the British Athletes Commission. Ian later signed to the Backstreet Advisory Board and has since become a close friend.
My time at Sussex also built robust critical thinking and public speaking skills that have served me well as a small business founder. I understand how intimidating entrepreneurship can be, so I’m now collaborating with the Careers and Entrepreneurship team to help more students turn their ideas into reality.
As I move into the next stage of my career, there’s great comfort in knowing I’ll always have a great degree from a fantastic university – it feels like the world is my oyster.”
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