Fourteen years ago, Liz founded Total Guide to after becoming frustrated with the lack of authentic, engaging local information available online. She wanted to create something different; a platform that truly reflected the places people live, work and visit, written by people who genuinely know and love the area.
Today, the Total Guide to Group has become a trusted source for everything from local events and family days out to hospitality, lifestyle and business features across the South West.
“We wanted it to feel raw and genuine,” said Liz. “Content created by a team who are actually living and working here – people who understand what makes the area so special.”
Liz’s own journey to Dorset began during a hugely uncertain chapter of life. She moved to the area pregnant, during lockdown, knowing almost nobody. What she discovered was a business community unlike any she had experienced before.
“People were so generous with their time and their connections,” she explained. “There’s something different about Poole and Dorset. It’s less serious, more fun, and people genuinely want to help each other succeed.”
That welcoming atmosphere inspired Liz to take on initiatives including the Boardroom Network, helping local professionals and business owners build meaningful relationships and support one another through the highs and lows of running a business.
“Being a business owner can be lonely and emotional,” she said. “We all want to create a good life for our families, and I feel incredibly lucky that through Total Guide I’m able to support local businesses, give them a platform and help people discover them.”
Outside of work, Liz has fully embraced coastal life in Dorset. A passionate surfer, some of her happiest moments are now spent in the sea with her young family.
For Liz, that balance between career, coastline and community is exactly what makes Dorset unique. “You can build a career you’re proud of here while being ten minutes from the sea,” she said. “Living by the coast is grounding. It puts life into perspective. What a beautiful place to live!”
As Total Guide to continues to grow, Liz remains committed to one core mission: helping people fall in love with the place they live in and supporting the independent businesses that make those areas such a vibrant place to call home.
Total Guide covers Dorset, Wiltshire and more specifically Bath, Bristol, Manchester, Reading and Cardiff.
You can watch the video HERE