Manchester creative agency Eight Engines has been named among the finalists for Production Company of the Year at the Prolific North Champions Awards, highlighting a successful period of transformation for the business.
The nomination comes after several years of change, during which the company has transitioned from a traditional video production provider into a broader creative partner serving clients throughout the UK and overseas.
Led by creative director Jack Leigh, the team has taken on a more integrated role in projects, contributing strategically from the outset. One recent example includes a rebrand launch campaign for Project Solar, delivered in collaboration with Kevin McCloud.
In addition, the company completed a major international assignment for Bureau Veritas, filming across multiple continents including Europe, Asia and South America. During the production, Leigh and part of the crew were unexpectedly stranded for a month due to the ongoing war.
Eight Engines has deliberately moved away from a purely executional role, instead embedding itself earlier in the creative journey to craft more authentic and engaging narratives through film. Leigh says this approach has strengthened the company’s ability to represent its clients effectively.
“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.”
As a result, the company has embraced more challenging and large-scale projects, including global productions and technically complex shoots. It has also become more discerning in the work it accepts, focusing on opportunities where it can add real value.
Commenting on the recognition, 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 emphasises that the company’s success stems from its willingness to go beyond standard production responsibilities.
“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.”
Reaching this stage has required difficult decisions, including stepping away from projects where the company felt it could not contribute meaningfully. This led to a short-term slowdown while the business refined its direction.
Now, that approach is proving effective, with clients increasingly engaging Eight Engines as a trusted creative partner involved in shaping overall vision and storytelling.
The winners of the Prolific North Champions Awards are set to be announced at Old Trafford on 14 May.
