About us
## Our community
User groups having been running in the UK for over 10 years, starting with a user group for Dynamics CRM in 2011.
Since then, we have expanded in number and in scope, covering not just the traditional ‘CRM’ applications under Dynamics 365 but also the Microsoft Power Platform – Power Apps, Power Automate, Power BI and Power Virtual Agents.
Our user groups provide an opportunity for users of Dynamics 365 and the Power Platform to get together, share their knowledge and get to know each other in a fun, open, and welcoming environment. Whatever your level of experience or how long you’ve been using the products, you’re welcome to our free meetings!
### Topics
The user group meetings cover all topics under the Dynamics 365 and Power Platform umbrella. We have talks on technical subjects such as development and solution architecture but also cover business perspectives as well, such as user adoption, managing change and business analysis.
### National user group
Our flagship all-day user groups – what we call the 'National' user groups – run several free all-day events per year. Each event offers 15+ sessions and typically attracts an audience of 150+ people. The events are held either in central London or Manchester.
### Regional user groups
Our regional user groups cover many areas of the UK. These meetings are typically held in the evening after a working day and have 2 or 3 speakers on topics related to Dynamics 365 and the Power Platform.
Upcoming events
12
Birmingham D365PPUG - September 2026
Wesleyan, Colmore Circus Queensway, Birmingham, GBOur next in-person meeting of the year will take place on Thursday 17th September 2026 from 18:30 at the Wesleyan Building. Parking is available close by at the B4 Car Park or it’s a short walk from any city centre train station.
Agenda
Presentation 1 : Architecting multi agent solutions - Varsha Mahesh
This session explores how Copilot Studio enables intelligent, purpose‑built agents, and how to combine them to create coordinated, resilient, and scalable multi‑agent systems inside your organisation.
We’ll break down the architectural patterns behind multi‑agent design, from orchestration and delegation to context‑sharing and guardrails. Through real‑world scenarios and live demos, you’ll see how Copilot Studio empowers developers to build deeply customised, pro‑code agents using capabilities, knowledge, tools/actions, etc.
Designed for architects, developers, and power users, this session goes beyond documentation to offer practical decision frameworks, integration strategies, and implementation guidance for building multi‑agent ecosystems that are secure, reliable, and aligned with Microsoft 365’s extensibility model. You’ll leave with the confidence to choose the right approach and architect solutions that deliver meaningful impact across your organisation.
Presentation 2 : Copilot City: Agents, Anarchy & the Law - Emma-Claire Shaw & Keith Atherton
Agents are opening doors faster than most organisations can keep up with. With a few clicks, anyone can spin up an agent that talks to customers, processes data, or interacts with internal systems and that speed is both the opportunity and the risk. In this session, we’ll follow two familiar characters you’ve probably met in your own organisation:
Keith – a renegade Copilot Studio builder. He moves fast, breaks things, and spins up agents quickly to solve real problems but at what cost?
Guardrails? “Suggestions.” Best practices? “Optional.” If there’s a limit, Keith has already found a way around it.
Emma – the uncompromising force of Copilot governance. Badge, rulebook, and risk register in hand, she’s here to protect the organisation from data leaks, compliance nightmares, and AI agents that have gone completely off the rails.
We’ll use them to explore the real tension many organisations face right now: balancing creativity and innovation with security, oversight, and responsible use of AI agents living in your very own Copilot city.
This session is grounded in real-world experience from working with organisations who are trying to get Copilot Studio implementation right – not by slowing people down, but by putting the right conversations, boundaries, and support structures in place.
By the end, you’ll have a clearer picture of how to encourage responsible innovation, keep things on track, and avoid turning your AI rollout into a firefight.
We strongly encourage you to arrive early to meet other user group members. We will be providing food and refreshments and you are welcome to stay afterwards for a chat!
We are always looking for people passionate about Dynamics 365 and the Power Platform to present at our events. If you would like to speak at any of our future events please register here.
49 attendees
Manchester (Evening) D365PPUG - September 2026
Irwin Mitchell Solicitors, One St Peter's Square, Greater Manchester, GBWe're excited to announce that our next Dynamics 365 & Power Platform User Group (D365PPUG) UK chapter meeting for Manchester will take place on September 30th.
Agenda
17:45-18:15: Arrivals / Networking / Intros
18:15-19:00: Don't Let Your Agents Go Rogue: Governing AI with Agent 365 - Richa PanditAI agents are multiplying fast across Microsoft 365 and without the right controls, they can become a serious governance and security risk. In this demo-heavy session, we’ll skip the slides and go straight into Microsoft Agent 365, Microsoft’s centralized control plane for AI agents, generally available since May 2026.
Watch live as we walk through the Agent 365 admin centre dashboard, register and inventory agents across platforms, configure policy-based controls, and trigger runtime protection against real-world threats like shadow AI and prompt injection. We’ll also demonstrate how Agent 365 extends visibility beyond Microsoft - into AWS Bedrock and Google Cloud - giving you a truly unified view of your agent ecosystem.
You’ll walk away with a clear picture of what Agent 365 looks like in practice, what it can and can’t do today, and exactly how to start governing your agents with confidence from day one.
19:00-19:15: 🍕Pizza Time 🍕
19:15-20:00: Stand out in the Microsoft Business Applications Job Market - Sarah JonesThe Microsoft Power Platform and Dynamics 365 job market is changing, and so are the skills and experience employers are looking for. AI is having an impact on the way we work day to day and how recruitment teams search for candidates. Keeping your head down and hoping your next opportunity will find you is not a career strategy.
Sarah will share the trends she is seeing across the Microsoft ecosystem and offer practical advice on how to position yourself in the market. She will cover what makes a CV and LinkedIn profile stand out, how to present your experience clearly, and what recruiters and hiring managers are actually looking for.
The session will also explore how attending events, upskilling and building genuine relationships within the community can help you get noticed. More importantly, you will learn how to turn those activities into meaningful career opportunities rather than simply collecting connections, certifications or event badges.
This will be an interactive session, with plenty of time for audience participation and an "Ask Me Anything".
You will come away with:
- A clearer understanding of the current Power Platform and Dynamics 365 job market.
- Practical ways to improve your CV and LinkedIn profile.
- Ideas for becoming more visible within the Microsoft community.
- Advice on making networking, events and upskilling work for your career.
- Greater confidence in how you present yourself and approach your next opportunity.
Our Speakers
Richa Pandit is Power Platform & Copilot Lead at Capgemini. She specialises in building intelligent, scalable systems that enhance efficiency, decision-making, and user engagement across the enterprise. With 14 years of experience delivering digital transformation initiatives, I’ve led cross-functional teams to design low-code apps, automate complex workflows, and integrate AI-driven conversational interfaces. Richa's YouTube channel shares and discusses scenarios involving Copilot Studio, Microsoft Foundry and other related AI topics.
Sarah Jones is Director at Liberty Careers. Her experience as a specialist recruiter has given her the knowledge and skills to coach people on their career strategy. She specialises in the Microsoft BizApps and AI space, helping professionals to futureproof their careers, position themselves for new opportunities, and navigate change with confidence. Sarah also hosts a female-focused podcast that amplifies the voices of women in tech, explores career growth. Sarah also co-organises the Manchester AI Collective and co-founded the Extra Life freelancing programme and Power Platform Community High Five.
Location
Irwin Mitchell Solicitors,
One St Peter's Square,
Manchester,
M2 3AF31 attendees
Past events
127
