To round off a fantastic year of community events, the Microsoft Cloud South Coast User Group hosted its annual flagship event at the Utilita Bowl in Southampton on 22nd and 23rd October. Bringing together IT professionals, Microsoft partners, and organisations working with Microsoft technologies, the two-day event provided a fantastic opportunity to learn, share knowledge, and connect with the wider Microsoft community.
As proud sponsors of this Microsoft cloud technology event, Mexa Solutions joined over 80 attendees, including industry professionals and end users, for two days of learning and networking. We took part in workshops, attended sessions led by expert speakers, and connected with fellow professionals across the exhibition hall, where sponsors showcased their latest products, solutions, and services.
The flagship event covered all the key pillars of the Microsoft ecosystem, including Microsoft 365, Azure, Power Platform, business applications, the modern workplace, security and compliance, and data and AI. With a wide range of topics and sessions on offer, there was something for everyone, from those looking to expand their technical knowledge to organisations exploring new ways to get more from Microsoft technology.
Following a format similar to major Microsoft events such as Microsoft Ignite and Future Decoded, the event delivered a packed programme of learning, networking, and industry insights. It was a valuable opportunity for attendees to discover new ideas, explore emerging technologies, and strengthen connections across the Microsoft community.
Day 1 – Thursday: Workshops
Thursday kicked off with registration opening at 8am, giving attendees the chance to network with fellow Microsoft professionals before a full day of hands-on workshops, knowledge sharing, and learning.
At Mexa Solutions, we explored a variety of workshops covering key areas of the Microsoft ecosystem. These included ‘Essential, Desirable, Optional: The Copilot Admin Framework’ with Sara Fennah, ‘Get Started Safely: From AI Idea to Governed Use’ with Simon Owen, and ‘Let’s Play with Microsoft Fabric’ with Laura Graham-Brown. Attendees could also take part in ‘Sheep Herding with Agent 365’, led by Edine Olijve-Watkinson and Kevin McDonnell.
Each session offered valuable insights into the latest Microsoft technologies and their practical applications, from managing Copilot effectively and adopting AI responsibly to exploring data analytics with Microsoft Fabric and the evolving capabilities of Agent 365.
Beyond the workshops, the day provided plenty of opportunities for our team to connect with Microsoft MVPs, UK Gold Partners, and professionals from across the Microsoft community. Discussions covered everything from the latest developments across the Microsoft ecosystem to current recruitment challenges and the specialist skills businesses need to keep pace with technological change.
For Mexa Solutions, events like these are about more than keeping up with the latest technology. They also give us valuable insight into the evolving Microsoft talent market, helping us understand our clients’ changing requirements and connect businesses with the right Microsoft professionals to support their goals.
Day 2 – Friday: Speaker Sessions
Friday was when the flagship event really came alive, with a fantastic turnout of attendees filling the venue for a full day of expert speaker sessions, networking, and knowledge sharing.
We were delighted to welcome a wide range of visitors to the Mexa Solutions stand, from long-standing partners to people discovering us for the first time. It was a great opportunity to introduce ourselves, share more about what we do, and hear about the challenges businesses are facing across the Microsoft technology landscape.
Some of the highlights included:
- Conversations about the Microsoft talent market: We discussed the latest trends in salaries, candidate demand, and career progression across Azure, Power Platform, and modern workplace roles.
- Helping businesses overcome recruitment challenges: From understanding what top candidates look for in a new role to refining attraction and retention strategies, we shared insights to help clients navigate an increasingly competitive hiring market.
- Sharing our latest Microsoft Salary Guide: The guide sparked conversations around evolving skill requirements, hybrid working, and salary transparency. It was also a great opportunity to showcase our new salary comparison tool and skills gap identifier, helping businesses better understand their position in the market and identify areas for development.
Our popular Racing Sim giveaway also returned this year, giving attendees the chance to put their driving skills to the test and compete for the fastest lap. There were plenty of laughs, some impressive lap times, and Hollie was on hand throughout the day to coach drivers and help them get the most out of their time behind the wheel.
A big congratulations to Luke, who secured the fastest lap of the day and took home our top prize!
Beyond the racing and networking, one of the biggest highlights was hearing directly from attendees about the real-world recruitment challenges they face, the specialist skills they are struggling to find, and the opportunities exciting them most.
These conversations are invaluable in helping us understand the needs of the Microsoft community and how Mexa Solutions can support businesses in finding the right talent.
Key Themes & Takeaways
Across the Summit’s workshops and speaker sessions, several key themes emerged, reflecting how organisations are adopting Microsoft technologies, navigating the opportunities presented by AI, and turning innovation into real business value.
AI Beyond the Hype
The conversation is shifting from simply adopting AI to understanding the tangible business value it can deliver. From measuring Copilot ROI to developing AI agents, organisations are increasingly focused on turning experimentation into meaningful, measurable outcomes.
Governance, Security & Control
As AI adoption continues to grow, strong governance and security remain essential. Managing AI agents, protecting sensitive data, securing Microsoft Teams meetings, and strengthening cyber defences are all crucial to reducing risk and building confidence in new technologies.
Data & Context Are Everything
Effective AI relies on having the right data and context. Building context-aware AI systems and making better use of enterprise data are key to delivering smarter, more relevant, and reliable results.
People, Adoption & Culture
Technology alone doesn’t guarantee success. Thoughtful design, effective user training, evolving consulting practices, and supporting teams through new ways of working all play an important role in ensuring new technologies deliver lasting value.
Building for Scale & Efficiency
From Azure platform engineering and network management to automation, Power Platform, and AI FinOps, organisations need the right foundations to scale innovation successfully while managing complexity, performance, and costs.
From AI Ideas to Real Impact
With opportunities for AI emerging across every part of the business, the challenge is turning promising ideas into practical solutions. Clear priorities, the right architecture, and a focus on business outcomes help organisations move beyond experimentation and deliver sustainable results.
Together, these themes highlighted an important message from the event. Successful technology adoption isn’t just about embracing the latest innovations. It’s about combining the right tools, data, security, and people to deliver meaningful outcomes for businesses.
Why It Matters
For us, the Microsoft Cloud South Coast User Group’s annual event, widely known as South Coast Summit, is about more than technology. It’s an opportunity to celebrate the incredible Microsoft Cloud user groups and communities we’ve been part of throughout the year. These events bring people together to share knowledge, learn from one another, and build meaningful connections across the Microsoft ecosystem.
The event gave us the chance to celebrate the community’s achievements, recognise the people who make these events possible, and look ahead to what we can continue to accomplish together. These communities are at the heart of what makes the Microsoft ecosystem so special, creating opportunities for collaboration, learning, and innovation.
As a proud sponsor, Mexa Solutions was delighted to support the event and its wider community. Collaboration, expertise, and genuine partnerships are at the heart of what we do. We’re passionate about helping organisations get the most out of Microsoft Cloud while supporting the people and communities that continue to drive innovation forward.
What’s Next?
Following a fantastic two days at the Microsoft Cloud South Coast User Group’s annual event, South Coast Summit, we’re already looking forward to continuing the conversations we started and helping more organisations innovate, modernise, and thrive with Microsoft Cloud.
If we met at the event and you’d like to continue the conversation, we’d love to hear from you. Contact us or connect with us on LinkedIn to keep the momentum going.
If your business is looking to recruit Microsoft professionals or you’re planning to grow your team, our team is here to help. Get in touch with us to discuss your hiring needs and submit your vacancy so we can help you find the right talent.
A huge thank you to the Microsoft Cloud South Coast User Group, the speakers, sponsors, and everyone who attended for making South Coast Summit such a fantastic event. We thoroughly enjoyed being part of it and look forward to seeing everyone again next year!
Frequently Asked Questions: How Mexa Solutions Can Help
What Microsoft technologies do you recruit for?
We specialise in recruitment across the Microsoft ecosystem, including Microsoft Azure, Microsoft 365, Power Platform, Dynamics 365, and business applications. We help organisations find skilled professionals with the technical expertise to support their digital transformation and business goals.
What information is included in the Microsoft Salary Guides?
Our salary guides provide insights into salaries, hiring trends, and compliance considerations across key areas of the Microsoft ecosystem. They can help employers benchmark salaries and support professionals in understanding their value in the market.
How can I submit a vacancy to Mexa Solutions?
You can easily submit a vacancy through our website. Simply share your hiring requirements with us, and our specialist recruitment team will work with you to find the right Microsoft technology talent for your business, helping you connect with skilled professionals who match your needs.
This blog was written by Hollie Agombar, Senior Digital Marketing Executive at Mexa Solutions