Manchester’s own video marketing specialists, Eight Engines, have been shortlisted for the Small Business of the Year Award by the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce (GMCC).
The annual award highlights small enterprises across the region that demonstrate outstanding growth, creativity, and positive community contribution.
Commenting on the nomination, Jack Leigh, Managing Director of Eight Engines, said: “To see the team recognised with this nomination makes me incredibly proud. It shows what can happen when you stick together, trust each other and keep moving forward. Our crew have faced challenges head-on and turned them into opportunities, and this recognition is proof of that.”
The nomination reflects a turning point for Eight Engines after navigating a difficult period for the commercial video industry. The agency reinvented its business model, focusing on long-term partnerships with clients and investing in a stable in-house team rather than freelance support.
This people-centred approach has strengthened creative continuity and job security, enabling the company to grow its workforce and achieve its most successful year yet in 2024 — momentum that has carried through into 2025.
Eight Engines’ work now spans international film marketing projects, including campaigns filmed in Las Vegas, Poland, Italy, Texas, and Mexico. The company’s recent expansion includes an impressive roster of new clients, while locally it continues to support charities through complimentary film production and leadership opportunities for junior team members.
At the centre of the company’s success story is founder Jack Leigh. Starting his career as a runner on large-scale film and TV productions, he experienced first-hand the pressures and instability that many creatives face. These experiences inspired his vision for a company built around trust, teamwork, and stability.
His lifelong collaboration with creative partner Rupert Grimshaw brings a distinctive spark to their work. The pair have been friends since they were two years old — a bond that still shapes their creative chemistry. Jack jokes that working with his childhood friend means he can occasionally “fire” him for giving him the nickname ‘Hobnob’ back in school. That humour and closeness form the backbone of the company’s culture and the authenticity behind its storytelling.
While the video production world faces disruption from AI and fluctuating freelance markets, Eight Engines has taken a steady path forward. The agency maintains a permanent, in-house crew while embracing technology only where it enhances creativity.
“AI is improving but often lacks soul,” Jack said. “We blend innovation with real human storytelling that connects and endures.”
