
On 16th January 2025, we at Primus Connect had the privilege of hosting the first Manchester Databricks User Group meetup of the year. Held at the fantastic Slalom office on Marble Street, the evening brought together an incredible mix of data professionals, technologists, and industry leaders to share ideas, learn from each other, and explore the latest developments in Databricks.

It was an inspiring evening filled with engaging talks, practical demonstrations, and plenty of opportunities to connect with the community over pizza and drinks. For those who couldn’t make it, here’s a quick look at what stood out for us.
Nik Walker: “So You Want to Build a Data Platform?”
Nik Walker, Head of Data Engineering at Co-op, kicked off the evening. Nik’s talk centred on the foundations of building a data platform – not the flashy tools, but the questions you need to ask before a single line of code is written.
His approach reminded us all of the importance of focusing on outcomes and alignment, tackling big questions like:
What do you need your data platform to achieve?
How can you ensure it genuinely supports your organisation’s goals?
What’s the best way to guide the process and keep everyone on board?
Nik shared his own experiences of navigating these challenges at Co-op, giving the room plenty of practical ideas and perspectives to bring back to their own projects. It was a grounded, thought-provoking start to the evening.

James Bentley & Luke Menzies: “Using Agents to Talk to Your Unity Catalogue”
Next, we heard from James Bentley and Luke Menzies, AI Consultants at Advancing Analytics. Their session looked at how agentic frameworks – and tools like chatbots – are changing the way organisations interact with their data.
James and Luke demonstrated how Unity Catalogue chatbots can make data more accessible to non-technical stakeholders, streamlining decision-making and boosting data usage across teams. They walked us through real-world examples, showcasing everything from open-source libraries to low-code solutions like AI/BI Genie.
Their live demos were particularly engaging, sparking plenty of conversation about how companies could apply these tools to simplify data access and unlock more value from Datalakes.

Networking, Pizza, and What’s Next
Of course, the evening wasn’t just about talks – it was about people. Between sessions and over pizza and drinks, attendees had the chance to network, swap ideas, and share their own experiences with Databricks. As organisers, we’re constantly reminded at these events how much value comes from the conversations sparked between sessions.

If you couldn’t make it this time, don’t worry – the next Manchester Databricks User Group meetup is just around the corner on the 20th of March 2025. We’d love to see you there! Make sure to join the Manchester Databricks User Group on LinkedIn and sign up via the Meetup group to stay up-to-date.
Here’s to another year of connecting, learning, and collaborating in the Databricks community. Thanks to everyone who came along, and we’ll see you at the next one!
Congratulations to the winner of the Optimus Prime lego: Anthony Pocock.

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