They say good things come from bad situations, and that couldn’t be truer for how Escape the Village came to life. On 31st October 2023, Liz, a seasoned marketing and brand professional, was called into a management meeting. The national company she had been working with as a senior Brand Manager was collapsing, another casualty of the Covid-era loan hangover and a struggling property market. By 9:30 am, the entire company had been informed. But by lunchtime, Liz had already updated her LinkedIn profile, secured a domain name, and launched a basic website. Escape the Village was born the very same day a,nd so began our origins story!.
From Corporate Collapse to Creative Freedom
Although the redundancy came as a shock, Liz quickly saw it as a turning point. She had been doing occasional freelance work alongside her corporate role and knew deep down she didn’t want to go back into senior management again. Being made redundant gave her the freedom to launch her own business—without the stress or guilt of resigning.
Her career had already spanned both global organisations and her own small business ventures. What she craved now was a chance to work more directly with small, local, and rural businesses—the often-overlooked gems of the business world—where she knew she could make a genuine impact.
What’s in a Name? Everything.
The name Escape the Village came about almost by accident, but it stuck for all the right reasons. Liz had noticed that many small businesses were incredibly well known in their own village or community—but virtually unknown beyond it. Some struggled even to be recognised in the next postcode. The name reflected their shared ambition: not to leave their roots behind, but to grow beyond them.
It’s a name that has sparked curiosity from the beginning. Whether at local shows or national conventions, it’s always a conversation starter. Even fellow marketers admire how distinctive it is—something a little more exciting than the usual ‘marketing consultant’ label. It is also a reflection of our origins story in many ways.
Big-Picture Thinking, Country-Lane Roots
Though born in North London, Liz has lived in the countryside for most of her life. She moved to Somerset at just five years old and has since made homes in rural pockets of the Surrey Hills, coastal Hampshire, farming Gloucestershire, and rural Wiltshire.
Her life today is deeply entwined with country living. Surrounded by animals, dogs, chickens, ponies, horses, cats and much more, Liz plans her workday around rural life and routines. Her calendar appointments don’t start before 10 am normally so she can care for her animals and family. Plus Friday afternoons are often reserved for motorsport get away weekends with her daughter Izzy, whose business, iJAG Photography, she proudly supports.
This real world countryside experience directly shapes how she works with clients. She understands the real-world barriers they face, poor signal, storm-damaged roads, livestock emergencies, and this understanding helps her connect on a level that many traditional agencies simply can’t. To quote one of her clients, “She gets it!”
From Solo Hustle to Small-but-Mighty Team
Starting Escape the Village wasn’t without its challenges. Liz faced early concerns around cashflow and missed having a team around her. But she invested wisely, using her redundancy package to build something sustainable. Slowly and deliberately, she put together a small but powerful team who share her passion and values.
Her first client was actually a friend and former corporate colleague. Initially brought in to audit their social media, Liz soon took over their content, blog strategy, and wider brand messaging. From there, the business grew—fueled by curiosity around the brand, word-of-mouth, and most importantly, results.
Why Small and Rural Businesses Matter
Escape the Village isn’t just for farms and village stores—though they’re certainly welcome. Liz works with rural car storage facilities, falconry display teams, artisans, eco-friendly brands, and niche e-commerce businesses. Her clients may be rurally based, but they’re full of ambition, quality, and professionalism.
Too often, rural businesses are underestimated. Liz’s mission is to level the playing field, proving that passion and purpose matter more than postcode. And for the businesses she works with? Even the smallest of marketing shifts can be transformative, both commercially and emotionally. When Liz founded Escape the Village, her goal wasn’t just to start another marketing agency. She wanted to build a service that understood the realities of rural business, the muddy boots, the narrow lanes, the frozen water pipes, and still delivered professional, consistent, and impactful marketing.
Over time, it became clear she had struck a chord. Escape the Village wasn’t just a clever name. It was a mission that resonated with small business owners who were tired of being overlooked, underestimated, or misunderstood by big-city marketing agencies.
Why Rural Marketing Needs a Different Approach
Thanks to her background in both global organisations and small local ventures, Liz brings a unique perspective to her clients. She understands that consistency, planning, and budget discipline are vital, no matter the size of the business.
But she also understands the logistical quirks of rural life. From poor broadband to signage obscured by hedgerows, many countryside businesses face practical hurdles just getting noticed. Liz has seen those gaps firsthand. She knows that with the right support, even the smallest enterprise can thrive and compete on a national level.
One client, who had previously worked with a slick marketing agency, put it simply: “They just didn’t get us.” Liz did. Because she lives it.
Not Just Farm Shops and Tractor Sales
One of the biggest misconceptions Liz regularly encounters is the idea that rural business is all about agriculture. And while she certainly supports farm shops and smallholders, Escape the Village’s client base is far more diverse.
Her work spans everything from high-end car storage facilities to falconry display teams, artisan food producers, plastering companies, and motorsport-linked services. What they all have in common is passion, professionalism, and a postcode that’s often overlooked.
And that’s exactly why Liz loves working with them.
Building Relationships, Not Just Campaigns
What motivates Liz on the tough days isn’t awards or metrics, it’s the people. Working directly with business owners and decision-makers means she sees the ripple effect of every successful campaign or new lead generated.
For many rural clients, even a modest change in marketing strategy can have an outsized impact. Liz gets to witness not just business growth, but a renewed sense of confidence and excitement in her clients. It’s marketing with meaning.
A Family Affair
Escape the Village is very much a family-rooted business. Liz’s daily schedule is built around a rural lifestyle that includes dogs, chickens, cats, and ponies, as well as supporting her daughter Izzy’s own creative venture, iJAG Photography.
Izzy, who also helps out with Escape the Village, often joins Liz on the road at local shows and events, particularly those involving motorsport. The family’s involvement adds another layer of authenticity to the business—it’s built on real people, doing real work, in real rural communities.
The Vision: A Rural Marketing Movement
Looking ahead, Liz’s goal is clear. She wants Escape the Village to become the go-to marketing partner for rural and local businesses across England and Wales. Not just an agency, but a one-stop solution, offering consultancy, services, support, and training tailored to the unique needs of countryside businesses.
She’s not chasing vanity metrics. For Liz, success is found in building strong systems, clear messaging, and a consistency that others can’t help but notice. Recognition has already followed—Escape the Village has received awards and national acknowledgement from respected business organisations—but it’s the client feedback that matters most.
Our Origins Story Continues to Leave a Legacy of Possibility
Liz firmly believes that rural businesses have more to offer than many realise. They are skilled, passionate, and often more innovative than their big-city counterparts. They just need the tools, and the confidence to show the world what they can do.
That’s the legacy Liz hopes to leave behind. A countryside filled with thriving businesses, each one equipped with the marketing power to escape the village… and take their place on the national stage.
Want to find out how Escape the Village can help your business grow beyond its borders?
Get in touch for a free discovery call or follow Escape the Village on our social media for updates, tips, and success stories.
Over the last thirty years Elizabeth has start up and run a number of successful businesses in a variety of industries including events management, restaurant, webdesign, business training and gardening! This has led to extensive knowledge of business startup, management and marketing.
She is also a qualified and experienced business and life coach with a passion for supporting small business owners. In addition to all of this she is an experienced and qualified further education lecturer, having taught face to face courses and workshops across England, as well as a range of online courses in a range of business and marketing topics .