A Manchester-based video production company, Eight Engines, has secured a nomination for Production Company of the Year at the Prolific North Champions Awards, marking a significant milestone in its recent evolution.
The recognition reflects a period of notable growth and reinvention for the studio, which has shifted from operating as a conventional production house to positioning itself as a comprehensive creative partner for clients both across the UK and internationally.
Under the direction of creative director Jack Leigh, the Manchester team has expanded its involvement in projects, taking on a more strategic role. This includes delivering a rebrand launch campaign for Project Solar, in collaboration with Kevin McCloud.
The company has also recently undertaken a large-scale production for Bureau Veritas, capturing footage across Europe, Asia and South America. During this project, Leigh and members of the crew faced unexpected disruption, becoming stranded for a month due to the ongoing war.
Rather than focusing solely on execution, Eight Engines has refined its approach, integrating itself earlier into the creative process to develop more meaningful storytelling through video. Leigh believes this shift has enabled the business to produce work that more accurately reflects its clients’ identities.
“Over the last couple of years we made a conscious decision to change how we worked with clients. We didn’t just want to be the team that turns up with a camera and films what’s there – we wanted to be involved earlier, bringing our creative and strategic thinking into the process to get better results.”
This strategic pivot has opened the door to more complex and ambitious projects, including international productions and technically demanding shoots. At the same time, the company has become more selective, choosing projects where it can make a genuine creative impact.
Reflecting on the nomination, Leigh said: “We’re over the moon to be nominated. The last few years have been a real period of change for us. We’ve rebuilt the company, focused on building the right team, and pushed ourselves to do more ambitious work. Every member of the team is driven to grow and bring something new to each project, so to be recognised at this level genuinely means a lot.”
Leigh attributes the company’s growing reputation to its commitment to exceeding traditional expectations within the production industry.
“Making great films is the baseline. What matters just as much is the experience for the client and the results we deliver.
We take on more responsibility than most, whether that’s managing complex logistics or delivering global projects at pace. We’re not just turning up and filming, we’re part of the process.”
The path to this recognition has involved calculated risks. The company chose to decline projects where it could not contribute creatively, which led to a temporary slowdown as it repositioned its offering.
That strategy is now yielding results, with Eight Engines forming closer partnerships with clients who value its expanded role in shaping creative direction.
Winners of the Prolific North Champions Awards will be revealed at a ceremony taking place at Old Trafford on 14 May.
