A heritage storytelling initiative showcasing Worcestershire’s remarkable contribution to national and international history has been shortlisted for a major regional marketing award.
Visit Historic Worcestershire and Spark Media has been named a finalist in the Best Storytelling category at the Midlands Marketing Awards, recognising the creative work delivered by Worcestershire’s official tourism organisation, Visit Worcestershire.
Developed to inspire more people to discover the county’s historic attractions, towns and landmarks, the initiative shines a spotlight on stories whose significance reaches far beyond Worcestershire. From Worcester Cathedral, the final resting place of King John, to Malvern’s influence on literary giants J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis, the activity reveals how Worcestershire has helped shape politics, culture, creativity and industry on a national and international stage.
Working closely with local historians, museums and heritage organisations, Visit Worcestershire uncovered and curated stories from across the county under four key themes: Royals & Rebels, Democracy, Creatives and Industry. The project was designed to challenge perceptions of Worcestershire’s heritage offer and showcase the extraordinary stories that make the county one of England’s most fascinating historic destinations.
Councillor Adam Kent, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Finance, Corporate Services and Business at Worcestershire County Council, said: “This is fantastic news and thoroughly well deserved. Visit Worcestershire has developed a fresh, imaginative and genuinely entertaining way to showcase Worcestershire’s rich history. This matters commercially as well as culturally; heritage tourism brings visitors into our towns, supports local businesses and creates jobs right across the county. Being shortlisted alongside the very best marketing in the Midlands is real recognition of that creativity. Congratulations to everyone involved: Visit Worcestershire, our partners at Spark Media, and the historians, museums and heritage organisations who helped bring it all together. We’ll be cheering them on in September.”
The campaign was brought to life in partnership with Spark Media, which led on concept development, filmmaking and character creation. Through a series of films and digital content, historic figures including King Charles II, Oliver Cromwell and Sir Edward Elgar were reimagined in contemporary settings, creating an engaging and accessible way for audiences to connect with Worcestershire’s past.
Scott Barnett, Co-Director at Spark Media, said: “This was a fantastic project for everyone at Spark to be involved in. It gave us the opportunity to immerse ourselves in Worcestershire’s rich history and uncover stories that deserve to be shared with a much wider audience. Our ambition was to bring those stories to life in a way that felt fresh, entertaining and relevant, helping people connect with the county’s heritage through creative storytelling. From the outset, Visit Worcestershire fully embraced that vision and encouraged us to push the creative boundaries. That level of trust and collaboration allowed us to create something that was both historically authentic and distinctive. It’s been incredibly rewarding to see the campaign evolve and inspire new visitors.”
Since launching, Visit Historic Worcestershire has generated strong engagement across digital, social media and broadcast platforms, helping to raise awareness of the county’s heritage offer and foster a renewed sense of pride among residents, businesses and visitors.
The Midlands Marketing Awards celebrate the very best marketing activity from across the region, recognising organisations that have demonstrated creativity, innovation and audience engagement.
The winners of the Midlands Marketing Awards will be announced in September 2026.