By day, the communications director of the West Midlands Growth Company, Tom Marlow, is one of the people responsible for shouting about all the many positive aspects of our cracking region. At weekends, you’ll hear him commentating for the Beeb on our top football teams
BEEN THERE, DONE THAT
This year marks my 20th year with the West Midlands Growth Company and BBC Radio WM – thank you if your first thought was ‘he doesn’t look old enough!’ – having joined both organisations after graduating from Aston University. The variety, experiences and enjoyment gained from working as a communications officer with media during the week, and then the reverse at the weekend, has seen me working in Cannes, at Conservative Party conferences and the Commonwealth Games, so it’s rarely dull!
IT’S WHAT I DO
During the week, I am a communications manager for the West Midlands Growth Company. My job is to liaise with local, national and international media – as well as our seven local authorities, stakeholders such as VisitBritain/VisitEngland and our great tourism venues – with the aim of creating positive coverage about the region and attracting more tourists, conferences and major sporting events to the West Midlands. I hope that by reading, hearing or watching upbeat stories about the West Midlands in some of the outlets I’ve worked with in recent years, that tourists and event organisers are encouraged to think about coming here. At weekends, I commentate on one of the West Midlands’ five Premier League or EFL football teams – normally Aston Villa or Walsall – so I could end up being in Newcastle, Nottingham or Newport on any given Saturday afternoon!
WHAT I’D LIKE TO SEE
I would love to see Birmingham and the wider West Midlands featured more in national newspapers’ weekend travel sections as a viable and serious option, rather than as a surprise alternative. It still seems fashionable to bash Birmingham and its surroundings by people who’ve either never been or have outdated views. On the football side, to commentate on one of our teams winning a trophy or gaining promotion would be a great thrill.
BIGGEST SUCCESS
It’s hard to look beyond that fantastic summer in 2022 when Birmingham hosted the Commonwealth Games. It was fantastic to see Birmingham and the West Midlands getting its time to shine and so many positive headlines. Having interviewed Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight for our Visit Birmingham website back in 2013 before the first series launched, it’s been incredible to see how that drama has exploded into a global phenomenon – it’s helped me to get some big national and international stories. I love commentating on Aston Villa in big Premier League fixtures. It’s been something I could’ve only dreamed of as a child.
BIGGEST LESSON LEARNED
I wish I had had thicker skin when starting out – I remember being called a ‘wet lettuce’ on social media after one of my first Birmingham City matches – but I’ve learned not to be quite so offended nowadays.
WHAT I LIKE ABOUT BRUM
I absolutely love all of the big sporting events that Birmingham and the West Midlands hosts. We’ve christened this region the ‘heart of sport’ in the UK, and with the All England Badminton Championships, Kabaddi World Cup and Rocket League Championship Series in March alone, there’s so much to enjoy.
DOWNTIME
Taking my six-year-old and three-year-old out and about to explore the West Midlands fills my weekends when I’m not at a football match. I also love watching game shows and will tell anyone who’ll listen (more than once) about my win on Countdown a few years ago. It’s probably time I went on another one!