What Standby Productions does

Standby Productions Ltd is a Manchester-based video production company founded in 2011 by Simon Owen. The firm operates a full-service production model spanning brief development, storyboarding, scriptwriting, filming, editing, and post-production, producing TV commercials, corporate videos, promotional films, and social media content. Its core technology stack is industry-standard filmmaking equipment and editing software, with no proprietary technology disclosed; an extended network of partner photographers is offered as an add-on service.

The company is privately held, bootstrapped, and structured around a small core team (Managing Director, Producer, Production Coordinator, DOP/Editor) augmented by freelance capacity. Standby employs a direct-sales GTM with a quote-based engagement model, supported by a recently launched self-service online quote builder with five budget tiers ranging from £3,000 to £20,000+. The customer base is horizontal, spanning UK and select international enterprise and SMB clients across sports, fashion, automotive, retail, lottery, education, and beverages, with named logos including National Lottery, Manchester United, British Cycling, Land Rover, Co-operative, New Era, COTTON CROWD, and YKK.

Differentiation rests on a 13+ year track record, a creative-agency-led approach, a personal-touch partnership model, and a sustainability proposition codified by a 1% of turnover donation to The Wildlife Trust Lancashire, Carbon Literate team certification, and the founder's appointment as the Trust's first ambassador. All revenue is project-based one-time fees, with no subscription, retainer, or licensing model disclosed.

Name

Standby Productions

Legal name

Standby Productions Ltd

Website

https://standbyproductions.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Standby Productions is a Manchester-based video production company founded in 2011 that produces TV commercials, corporate videos, promos, and social media content for enterprise and SMB clients across the UK, with a sustainability-led differentiator.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Video Production Services

NAICS

Motion Picture and Video Production (51211), Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries (512), Advertising Agencies (541810)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812), Services-Allied To Motion Picture Production (7819)

akta.pro primary industry

Live-Action Short-Form Production (Short Films, Web Series) (MPADABAE)

Keywords

• Video production services
• Corporate video production
• Tv commercial production
• Promotional film production
• Social media video content

Headquarters

HQ city

Manchester

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Video Production Services: One-time project-based fees for video production services including TV commercials, corporate videos, promos, and social media content. Pricing is quote-based with budget tiers ranging from £3,000 to £20,000+. Services include full production lifecycle from brief to delivery.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Standby Productions is a Manchester-based video production company producing TV commercials, corporate videos, promos, and social media content for businesses. Services span the full production lifecycle from brief, storyboarding, and scriptwriting through filming, editing, and final delivery, with optional creative agency methodology and photography add-ons.

Product overview

Standby Productions is a video production company offering a comprehensive suite of video production services. Their core offerings include corporate videos, TV commercials, social media content, and promotional films. They approach projects as a creative agency, developing concepts and campaigns from initial brief through to final delivery. The company also provides photography services through an extended network of partnered photographers, and offers end-to-end production including storyboarding, scriptwriting, filming, editing, and post-production. Founded in 2011, the company is based in Manchester with global reach.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Corporate Videos Professional corporate video production services for businesses, including branded content, internal communications, and company profiles, delivered by an in-house production crew.
• TV Commercials Television advertising production services, including creative development, filming, and Clearcast clearance for broadcast, produced by a Manchester-based film crew.
• Social Media Content Digital video content optimized for social media platforms, including short-form and long-form social media campaigns for brands.
• Promotional Films Promotional video content for marketing campaigns, product launches, and brand storytelling across various channels.
• Photography Services Comprehensive photography services including commercial, fashion, sports, and lifestyle photography delivered through a network of partnered photographers.
• Creative Agency Services Creative concept development, campaign planning, and storytelling services approaching projects with creative agency methodology.

Quantifiable outcome

• 13+ years of production experience since 2011
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers16 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Lancashire Wildlife TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Simon Owen, Founder of Standby Productions, was named the first ever ambassador of The Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside. This ambassador role formalizes the partnership and positions Standby's founder as a champion for environmental causes in the region.
• The Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North MerseysidecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStandby Productions donates 1% of annual turnover to The Wildlife Trust Lancashire for continued restoration and protection of the North's peatlands. UK peatlands store the equivalent of 8 years of carbon emissions and twice as much carbon as the world's forests. This partnership demonstrates Standby's environmental commitment and differentiates them from competitors.
• Manchester Business Growth HubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCompleted a 10-week course run by the Manchester Business Growth Hub as part of Standby's journey to Net Zero. The course covered Sustainability Matrix, Aspects & Impacts report, and Environmental Policy development.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Hound Studio: UK video production studio producing promotional, brand, and marketing video content for corporate clients. Direct structural competitor in the boutique corporate video segment.
• Crisp: UK-based video production company producing brand, corporate, and promotional content for enterprise clients. Comparable full-service brief-to-delivery model and customer overlap with Standby.
• Brilliant TV: UK video production boutique serving consumer and enterprise brands with creative brand content and TV commercials. Overlaps with Standby's commercial and social content offering.
• Dashing Films: London-based promotional video and brand content producer working with consumer brands, agencies, and corporates. Comparable scale and short-form promotional offering.
• Aspect Film & Video: UK video production house producing corporate, brand, and commercial content for enterprise clients. Closely comparable service mix and client base to Standby.
• Skeleton Productions: UK video production company producing brand films, TV commercials, and corporate content for major brands. Comparable full-service creative production model.
• Big Button: Manchester-based video production company serving similar mid-market and enterprise clients with corporate video, TV commercials, and brand content — a direct regional competitor.
• Purplepatch: UK creative video production agency producing brand films, corporate videos, and promotional content. Similar customer segments and full-service approach.
• Lemonade Films: UK commercial video production company producing advertising and brand content for agencies and brands. Direct overlap in TV commercial and brand content production.

Broad incumbents

• RSA Films: Established global commercial production house producing brand and advertising films for major brands. Wider portfolio and scale but overlapping enterprise commercial clients.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/standbyprod
• Facebookfacebook.com/standbyproductionsltd
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/standby-productions-ltd
• Instagraminstagram.com/standbyproductions

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Standby Productions