Quorum’s data team has returned from an exciting and thrilling adventure, successfully navigating the journey to Newport, Wales and back to attend the spectacular SQLBits conference!
SQLBits is the largest data platform conference in Europe, with over 300 sessions over 5 days. Sessions and training days are provided by high-ranking principal architects at Microsoft as well as some well-known faces in the data community.
Learn about exciting new developments in a whole variety of data products.
Consolidate best practices for products we work with already.
Network with as many attendees and speakers as possible.
Most importantly bring back as much D&D-themed swag as physically possible.
It was a conference unlike any others we had attended. The venue and atmosphere were incredible, with some really insightful sessions that offered us more knowledge of certain functionality of the tools we already use day to day, as well as some new perspectives in the way we can deliver our client solutions.
“I had never been to a conference quite like this one before. The venue and atmosphere were truly amazing, and I was able to attend some incredibly insightful sessions that provided me with a deeper understanding of the tools I use every day. Additionally, I gained fresh perspectives on how to enhance our client solutions.
The most significant take-away above all was the sense of community spirit that drives the event, which inspired us all to be more involved and even think about delivering our own speaking sessions at conferences in the future. The community spirit was definitely present at the legendary SQLBits Friday night party which completely blew my expectations out the water.”
From the moment I arrived, I was surrounded by people who were just like me – friendly, caring, and knowledgeable individuals who share a passion for all things data.
What struck me most about this community was how approachable everyone was. No matter what level of expertise you had, there was always someone willing to lend a helping hand or share their own insights. And with representatives from Microsoft and other top companies, you can be sure that you’re getting some of the best advice and guidance around.
But what I appreciated most about SQL bits was how it stimulated my mind. It was a place where I could bring my deepest questions and thoughts to the surface and engage in open discussions with others who were just as curious and excited about data as I was.
Overall, I would highly recommend SQL bits to anyone who wants to connect with like-minded individuals and stay on the cutting edge of data trends and technologies.
“SQLBits is a conference like no other, with some amazing talks. Talks that made me think differently about pieces of work that I have done in the past, as well as giving insights into technology I didn’t even know existed and how much they will help in future (using Databricks to generate Test Data is the new toy that I am hoping to play with first).
Outwith the sessions, my highlights were having the opportunity to meet some amazingly talented people in their field, getting the chance to talk to them one-on-one, talking to them on a personal level, and gaining as much knowledge as I can from them in the process.
I didn’t realise the size and impact of the data community until going to SQLBits, here’s hoping I may be a speaker and helping out next year (fingers crossed).”
“SQLBits was a conference unlike any other I have attended. The workshops, articles, tutorials – and most of all, the atmosphere – was truly incredible.
Through SQLBits I gained a better understanding of many topics and was introduced to many more new ones, some of which I plan to investigate further.
My most significant takeaway was the understanding that it is the community spirit that drives the event and gave me the desire to work towards creating my own presentation.”
“As I walked through the doors of SQLBits, I felt a mix of excitement and uncertainty. I wasn’t sure what to expect from this conference, however, having heard Rob rave about it on numerous occasions, I was eager to experience it for myself.
From the moment I stepped foot in the conference hall, I was impressed by the high level of organisation, attention to detail, and the calibre of speakers. The sessions were informative, engaging, and inspiring. The amount of knowledge and expertise that was shared was beyond anything I could have imagined.
I can honestly say that it was an unforgettable experience. The energy, the passion, and the sheer dedication of everyone involved was truly inspiring. I am grateful for the opportunity to have been a part of it, and I look forward to attending again in the future.”
“Before attending SQLBits, I had heard so much about it from my colleagues, especially Rob and Tom, who couldn’t stop raving about it. However, I didn’t want to set my expectations too high, just in case it didn’t live up to the hype. But from the moment I arrived, I was blown away.
The event was massive and incredibly well-organised. The layout was spacious, and the exhibitors were all enthusiastic and genuinely interested in connecting with attendees. Unlike other conferences where people are trying to show off, this event was all about meeting and learning from each other for the sake of knowledge.
I was impressed by the quality of the presentations and the expertise of the speakers. The topics covered were diverse and relevant, and I left with a wealth of new knowledge and insights.
Overall, SQLBits exceeded my expectations and was an incredible experience.
I highly recommend it to anyone in the industry looking to expand their knowledge and network with like-minded professionals.”
“After speaking with previous attendees, I was excited to attend SQLBits this year. One of the highlights for me was the chance to interact with the speakers after their sessions and gain even more insights.
I value events that encourage such interaction between attendees and speakers because it fosters a learning environment in which everyone can share and benefit from each other’s knowledge.
This, in my opinion, distinguishes SQLBits from other events, and I hope to attend again in the future.”
“During the conference, I attended two full-day sessions and several shorter ones. It was an excellent opportunity for me to meet many friends within the data community from the UK, Europe, and beyond.
This year, I also achieved a personal goal of delivering a full 50-minute session. The session was titled ‘Power BI Incremental Refresh Made Simple,’ and it was well-attended by 58 in-person and 34 virtual attendees.
Another highlight of the conference was the Pub Quiz team I was in, which achieved 2nd place.
All of that is insignificant in comparison to seeing, hearing, and experiencing my colleagues’ enthusiasm. They were made to feel like they were a part of the data community and made friends. Even better, many people want to contribute by delivering sessions at other data conferences. Their enthusiasm was far beyond anything I could have hoped for.”
Keep an eye out, world. The Quorum Data Team has been released!
Overall, it was an unforgettable experience, with some great connections made and so much knowledge gained from the technical sessions and ideas that will definitely keep us busy for a while with some internal projects.
We were so exhausted by the end of the week, but above all it was just such an incredible experience to spend the week with some of the smartest minds in the data and Microsoft community and have so much fun learning (and partying) with a conference full of like-minded individuals.
We’re extremely thankful to Quorum for giving us the opportunity to attend this amazing conference, and we can’t wait to go back next year!
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Quorum
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Phone: +44 131 652 3954
Email: marketing@quorum.co.uk
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