Manchester Databricks User Group

Welcome to the Manchester Databricks Meetup January 2025!

Join us for an exciting evening of Databricks insights, expert sessions, and networking.

Agenda:

17:30- 17:45 Arrival & Networking
Mingle with fellow data enthusiasts and professionals.

17:45 - 18:00 Opening Remarks & Introductions
Get to know your fellow attendees and the organisers.

18:00- 18:35 Nik Walker | So you want to build a data platform, things to consider with brains and business before you write a single line of code.

18:35- 18:55 - Enjoy some delicious pizza and beverages while networking with peers.

18:55 - 19:30 - James Bentley & Luke Menzies | Using agents to talk to your Unity Catalogue.

19:30 onwards: Drinks & Networking

Date and Location:

Date: 16th January – 5:30pm - 7:30pm

Venue: Slalom – Floor 15, Bloc, 17 Marble Street, Manchester, M2 3AW
Join us for a fantastic evening of learning and networking at the Manchester Databricks User Group!

Session Details:

18:00- 18:35: Nik Walker, Head of Data Engineering at Co-op | So you want to build a data platform, things to consider with brains and business before you write a single line of code.

In 2024, it feels like everyone is jumping on the hype train to build—or rebuild—a data platform. But for many technologists, the real challenge lies in demonstrating the platform's value within their organisations.
Drawing from his experience, Nik will share insights from navigating the "Here’s where we are, here’s what’s wrong, and here’s how we fix it" conversations that drive transformation. Whether you're thinking of replatforming or starting from scratch, this talk will help you consider the key questions:

• What outcomes can you realistically deliver?
• How do you align the platform's capabilities with your organization's needs?
• How do you lead the journey with confidence?

Don’t miss this opportunity to learn practical strategies and hear Nik’s firsthand account of re-platforming at Co-op.

18:55 - 19:30 - James Bentley, AI Consultant at Advancing Analytics & Luke Menzies Principal AI Consultant at Advancing Analytics | Using agents to talk to your Unity Catalogue.

Get ready to dive into the future of data analytics! If 2024 was the year of Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG), then 2025 is set to be the year of agents. Join James and Luke from Advancing Analytics as they take you through their work querying Unity Catalogue using agentic frameworks. In this talk, they’ll reveal how they’ve leveraged the power of agents to create Unity Catalogue chatbots - democratising data for stakeholders. They’ll also demonstrate how a range of tools from open-source libraries to brand new, low code, AI/BI Genie solutions can help you unlock greater insights from your Datalake.

Date and Location:

Date: 16th January 2025 – 5.30pm – 7.30pm
Venue: Slalom – Floor 15, Bloc, 17 Marble Street, Manchester, M2 3AW
Join us for a fantastic evening of learning and networking at the Manchester Databricks User Group!