Trends we’re looking for in the UK Top 50 2026

The UK Top 50 has grown into the clearest picture of the UK’s brand and corporate film sector: who is producing standout work, how companies are evolving and what the wider creative landscape looks like. And now production businesses have an extra week to take part, with entries closing on Monday 16th February 2026.

Last year’s Impact Report highlighted the scale of interest in the ranking.

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The 2025 edition achieved a Tier 1 Reach of more than 175,000, generated over 1,250 reactions and 179 comments on LinkedIn. Hundreds of producers downloaded the report, shared their achievements and reflected on the story the data told.

A snapshot of a shifting sector

Brand and corporate film continues to evolve. Deadlines are shorter, expectations are higher and the formats producers are being asked to deliver are expanding. The role of video is shifting, becoming one part of a more varied and integrated production offering.  For many producers we work with, video remains central but now sits alongside a wider range of creative and strategic services rather than standing alone. 

The shift can feel like a significant hurdle, particularly for smaller production outfits completing the survey. However, last year’s responses highlighted how resilient the community has been, with many producers adapting to these pressures and finding value in broadening their skillsets and offerings. It also gave us a first sight of the rapid emergence of generative AI.

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In the 2025 survey, AI consistently appeared in producer comments, ranging from curiosity and early experimentation to moments of concern. A year later, we want to understand how far it has moved from the margins into day-to-day practice. Is AI helping teams save time in planning and pre-production? Is it shifting the skill sets companies hire for? Has it influenced how companies win work or how they collaborate with clients?

Alongside AI, this year’s survey will explore:

• How companies are balancing creative and strategic demands
• What skills and roles are being added, adapted or replaced
• Where producers are finding growth
• How in-house and independent teams compare in terms of output and focus
• How the sector is navigating tighter budgets and changing client expectations
• The continued rise of short-form, vertical and social-first content
• The wider influence of brand film on organisational storytelling

Each response helps us understand where the UK’s message-making capabilities are heading, and how the sector is shaping its future.

A Top 50 that matters to producers

It is, in many ways, Your Top 50, the strength and future of which depends on continued participation from across the community.

Moving Image revived the Top 50 with EVCOM to give producers and creatives something meaningful to stand behind: a credible, data-led way to celebrate their work, raise the profile of the sector, and help position brand and corporate film in the UK’s creative industries. And the success of last year's launch event at Close Up Cinema in London's Shoreditch was testament to that.

Participation in the survey strengthens the picture we can build of the industry. It also strengthens the platform itself. With each edition we have seen increased interest from organisations who want to be associated with the sector’s creative talent, whether through sponsorship, advertising or future collaboration.

Looking ahead to March

The 2026 UK Top 50 will be revealed at the March event in London, where Moving Image CEO Steve Garvey will share the results, outline key findings and open the floor to discussion.

A follow-up webinar will bring together selected Top 50 producers for a panel discussion on what the ranking means for their businesses.

The survey is simple to complete and takes 10-15 minutes. For an idea of what questions to expect, you can read our breakdown article here. Participants will receive early access to the final report ahead of general release.

To get started on the survey, click here.

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