Spring Insights: March 2025 Manchester Databricks User Group Recap

On 20th March 2025, Primus Connect had the pleasure of hosting the second Manchester Databricks User Group meetup of 2025. Set in the inspiring Slalom office on Marble Street, the event brought together an enthusiastic group of data professionals, technical experts, and industry leaders to exchange ideas, gain insights, and explore the latest in Databricks advancements. 

The evening offered a perfect blend of engaging talks, hands-on demonstrations, and networking opportunities over pizza and drinks. For those who couldn’t join us this time around, here’s a recap of some of the highlights. 

Giles Middleton: “Quantify Data Value and ROI through Unity Catalog Metrics, System Tables, and Lineage” 

Giles Middleton, Head of Data at Orbis Investments, opened the evening with an engaging presentation on defining and measuring Data Value. He introduced a practical methodology that leverages Unity Catalog metrics, system tables, and lineage to uncover critical observations in the performance of data platforms. 

Giles broke down how these tools can reveal the value generated by data systems, identify inefficiencies, and enhance governance processes. His approach equips organisations to pinpoint areas of waste, streamline operations, and ensure compliance, all while providing a clear framework for demonstrating the impact of data investments. 

By translating technical practices into tangible business outcomes, Giles’s talk offered actionable insights for both technical teams and data leaders. Attendees left with a better understanding of how to quantify ROI, optimise data strategies, and use their platforms as drivers of meaningful organisational change. 

Holly Smith: “The Metadata Marathon: How Three Projects are Racing Forward” 

Holly Smith, Staff Developer Advocate at Databricks, delivered a fun-filled presentation with an exploration into the world of open storage formats. Her talk focused on Delta, Hudi, and Iceberg, three key players in this rapidly evolving space.  

Holly provided an insightful breakdown of these technologies, comparing their approaches and use cases, and illustrating why they’ve become such hot topics within the data community. 

Rather than just highlighting the technical differences, Holly contextualised her talk with real-world implications, helping attendees understand how these formats impact scalability, efficiency, and decision-making, and equipping the audience with useful takeaways to consider within their own projects. 

Networking over Pizza 

Of course, no Manchester Databricks User Group event would be complete without the chance to connect with the community. Between sessions and over pizza and drinks, attendees had the opportunity to meet like-minded individuals, exchange ideas, and swap experiences of working with Databricks in their projects. 

It’s these moments between the talks that really bring the group to life, reminding us all why this community is so valuable. 

What’s Next? 

If you missed out this time, don’t worry – our next Manchester Databricks User Group meetup is on the 15th of May, and we’d love to see you there. Stay in the loop by joining our Manchester Databricks User Group on LinkedIn and signing up via the Meetup group. https://www.meetup.com/manchester-databricks-user-group/events/?eventOrigin=event_home_page  

A huge thank you to Holly, Giles, and everyone who attended for making the evening such a success. Here’s to continuing the conversations, building connections, and exploring new possibilities in the Databricks world. See you in May.