Microsoft Data Platform Group - Birmingham

Microsoft Data Platform Group Birmingham

Thursday 5th March at 13:00 GMT

Session Title: Unlocking The Value Of AI For Your Business - Where To Start

Speaker: Branden Millward

Session Abstract:

### TL; DR

The session will cover the fundamentals of AI and its key terminology. It will explore various business applications and discuss when and why to use different techniques. The focus will be on providing attendees with essential knowledge, enabling them to engage effectively with this sector.

### Session Details

The session will cover the fundamentals of AI and its key terminology. It will explore various business applications and discuss when and why to use different techniques. The focus will be on providing attendees with essential knowledge, enabling them to engage effectively with this sector.

### 3 things you'll get out of this session

Providing attendees with essential knowledge, enabling them to engage effectively with AI Provide a guide of what skills will help them engage with AI and where to go to learn them. Give knowledge of how to utilise AI within a business.

#### Additional notes

Agenda:

12.45 - 13:00 : Speaker Setup and Join

13:00 - 13:05 : Open Lobby to guests and Introductions

13:05 - 14:00 : Unlocking The Value Of AI For Your Business: Where To Start - Branden Millward

Venue: Wherever you have access to a computer or smart device!
This session will be online only!

Other Details:

*** Please note registration on MeetUp is required to gain access to the Teams link!***

Microsoft Data Platform Group Birmingham

Thursday 2nd April 2026 at 13:00 GMT

Session Title: Create the perfect morning checks report with dbatools

Speaker: Jess Pomfret

Session Abstract:
There are often a few things we like to check on every morning with our first cup of coffee, tea, or juice. Depending on your role, this list may be different – but with this session, I’ll teach you how to automate a list of checks and have them automatically delivered to your inbox every day.

In this session, I will show you my standard morning checks as a DBA, checking for the following using dbatools.

- Any databases missing backups?
- Any jobs (or job steps) that have failed overnight?
- Any worrying messages in the error log?
- Any disks about to run out of space?
- And many more…

I’ll then generate a beautiful HTML email and status page that shows you the results and highlights any issues that you should work on first.

This session will give you the structure needed to check anything that you can write a script for; the possibilities are as wide as your imagination.

Join me as we automate our morning checklists.

#### Additional notes

Agenda:

12.45 - 13:00 : Speaker Setup and Join

13:00 - 13:05 : Open Lobby to guests and Introductions

13:05 - 14:00 : Create the perfect morning checks report with dbatools

Venue: Wherever you have access to a computer or smart device!
This session will be online only!

Other Details:

*** Please note registration on MeetUp is required to gain access to the Teams link!***

Microsoft Data Platform Group Birmingham

Thursday 7th May 2026 at 13:00 GMT

Session Title: Designing Effective and Accessible Reports in Power BI

Speaker: Matt Mair-Durrant

Session Abstract:
In this session, we’ll explore how to create Power BI reports that not only look great but also communicate insights clearly and inclusively.
Attendees will learn practical design techniques, from choosing effective layouts and colour palettes to leveraging visual hierarchy and whitespace to guide user attention. We’ll look at real‑world examples that demonstrate how thoughtful design decisions can improve both comprehension and engagement.
Accessibility is an essential but often overlooked aspect of report design. We’ll cover how to ensure your dashboards can be used by people with diverse needs, including guidance on colour contrast, keyboard navigation, alternative text, and designing for screen readers. Participants will walk away with actionable tips for balancing aesthetics, accessibility, and analytical effectiveness, ensuring every report delivers impact while remaining usable for all audiences.

#### Additional notes

Agenda:

12.45 - 13:00 : Speaker Setup and Join

13:00 - 13:05 : Open Lobby to guests and Introductions

13:05 - 14:00 : Designing Effective and Accessible Reports in Power BI

Venue: Wherever you have access to a computer or smart device!
This session will be online only!

Other Details:

*** Please note registration on MeetUp is required to gain access to the Teams link!***

Please contact us via email if you are having any issues joining, and we'll do everything we can to help.

Event Organiser Contact Details:

If you need any further details or have any requests for this or future Data Platform Group events, please get in touch.

Email: meetup@purplefrogsystems.com