YouNeek Studios Turns Funding Rejection Into 70-Shoot Year

By Daniel Okafor

A video production company that a grant body turned down has completed 70 shoots in the twelve months since it opened its own studio. YouNeek Productions Ltd, founded by Luke Evans in 2013, self-funded the build with wife and operations director Kasia Evans after the funding knock-back.

The results are now measurable. Of the 70 shoots, the company carried out 28 — 40 per cent — inside its own purpose-built YouNeek Studio. The business has also filmed several new series for its own brand, and the headcount has grown to a team of 25, including crew and specialists hired to expand the company.

What does the studio actually offer?

The facility, in the Midlands, contains a bespoke L-shaped infinity cove for brand, lifestyle and product shoots. It adds dedicated interview spaces, multiple filming sets and post-production space for collaborators.

The business model runs on two tracks. Large-scale clients buy high-level digital services. Smaller packages go to local start-ups, founders and digital marketeers. The hub also runs monthly workshops and content days for local businesses and creators — a way to fill calendar gaps and build a regional client base at the same time.

The client list stretches from small businesses to global brands. Past and present names include Just Eat, Milwaukee Tools and Saint Gobain.

What are the awards?

Luke Evans, 37, has been shortlisted as Creative & Media Entrepreneur of the Year for the Midlands category of the Allica Bank Great British Entrepreneur Awards, an event dubbed the Grammys of entrepreneurship. He has also been declared a winner in the European Technology Awards 2026.

The recognition follows a speaking slot at Ideas Fest in September. The two-day outdoor business festival, described as the 'Glastonbury for Business', gathers thousands of entrepreneurs, founders and leaders. Evans spoke there about the power of visual storytelling and emotion-led storytelling.

His craft has a television pedigree. Evans honed his scriptwriting on both EastEnders and Hollyoaks before setting up his own business in 2013.

What did the founder say?

"Building the new studio was a huge gamble for us in many ways," Evans said.

"But a year on, it's proved itself to have been well worth it. We've been able to take on new projects, work with bigger clients, but still offer a personal, accessible service to a whole range of businesses."

He framed the past year as a turning point for both founder and company.

"It's been a transformative year for me personally and for the business as a whole. Being shortlisted for awards and given the opportunity to share our journey in front of thousands of founders and entrepreneurs has been wonderful, but this is just the tip of the iceberg of some huge exciting developments that we've seen in recent months and we can't wait to share."

He added: "It just goes to show that the big gambles may be the most scary, but can lead to great things. We can't wait to see where the next 12 months take us."

What comes next?

YouNeek documents its journey and shares its stories through its YouTube channel, a marketing asset that doubles as proof of work for prospective clients. The founder's claim of "huge exciting developments" in recent months signals further announcements ahead.

The case is a study in bootstrapped growth: a rejected grant application, a self-funded facility, and a first-year return of 28 in-house shoots, two award recognitions and a national stage. The test now is whether the studio can lift utilisation above the 40 per cent mark in year two.