A List of User Groups for Managed Service Providers
Here is a list of User Groups of interest to UK-based Managed Service Providers and IT Solution Providers that I hope to keep regularly updated.
Peer and User Groups are a fantastic way of accelerating your learning and building your business, and I highly encourage you to get involved.
Need more convincing? Here are 3 good reasons to attend your local user group.
Citrix UK User Group
The UK Citrix User Group is the group created by the Citrix community for the community.
Meeting approximately once a quarter in different venues in Manchester, London, and Birmingham, the UK Citrix User Group is a free-to-attend community group for users of Citrix Systems software.
For more details, visit the UK Citrix User Group web page. You can also follow the UK Citrix User Group on Twitter.
CompTIA Communities
The community was formed to provide a platform for resellers, distributors, and vendors to focus on developing best practices, business education, and resources for companies engaged in the delivery of IT services in the UK.
The community meets face-to-face four times a year. There is no requirement to be a member of CompTIA to join the community, and attendance at the community meetings is free.
For more details visit the CompTIA Communities web page.
Further reading:-
ConnectWise IT Nation Evolve
The group formerly known as Heartlands Technology Group (HTG) is a peer group for IT businesses that lives by the mantra “Business and Personal growth driven by execution”.
The group has (at the time of writing) two chapters in the UK – HTG 11 and HTG 25. These UK chapters meet once per quarter.
They also have a Service Executive group in the UK as well.
Find out more details about ConnectWise IT Nation Evolve.
Further Reading:-
ConnectWise User Groups
There are several Community groups for users of the ConnectWise PSA tool across North America and Australia and there is also a group named Five Hours Ahead that regularly meets in London for the UK.
Find out more information about ConnectWise User Groups (now known as “IT Nation Share”)
Microsoft Cloud User Group
A dedicated Microsoft Cloud User Group focusing on Skype for Business, Office365, Azure and Enterprise Mobility Suite that meets in Birmingham, Manchester, and London.
For more details, contact MSCUG on Twitter or visit the Microsoft Cloud User Group website.
Microsoft Data Platform Group
The Microsoft Data Platform Group brings the West Midlands Microsoft data platform community together.
Meetings are normally held every other month, usually on a Thursday in Birmingham.
For more details, visit the Microsoft Data Platform Group meetup page.
Microsoft Unified Communications User Group London
A London User Group aimed at driving awareness for Lync & Unified Communications (UC) related technology – with a little best practice thrown in too.
For more details visit the Microsoft Unified Communications User Group London website.
MSPhere
This community was launched by French distributor BeMSP in June 2022 and already has 132 members. Over 10,000 messages have been exchanged between members.
As a member of MSPhere, you can:
- Get in touch with other French-speaking MSPs
- Get answers to your questions from a team of experts
- Get involved in the community to share your ideas and frustrations, dispense advice to others, and develop strong relationships with other members
- Keep up-to-date with the latest news and developments in the sector
Collective intelligence is something that has gained momentum in the community over recent years.
For more details, you can visit the BeMSP blog.
Network Group
Network Group is a vibrant community of MSPs, IT resellers, and retailers. It’s run by MSPs for MSPs.
It is a community that embraces sharing and collaboration for the good of all its members.
They provide training and development and share best practices with their members, and they work with a select few vendor partners to help MSPs grow their businesses.
They host four regular events a year for members to meet up, network learn from each other, and share in new opportunities.
For more details, visit the Network Group website.
North East Azure User Group
A user group for anyone interested in or using Microsoft Azure in the North East.
For more details, visit the North East Azure User Group page.
SBSC North West
The SBSC North West Group meets once a month in Manchester, in the North-West of England. It is an independent forum for Local IT support and MSPs to meet and share best practices.
They discuss how to get the most from their vendor suppliers, as well as how to better serve their small and medium-sized customers.
Group discussions revolve around common or specific issues, and emerging trends to look out for.
The group is open to all Managed Service Providers in the North West region.
Find out more on the SBSC North West group page.
SuperOps MSP Community
Welcome to the SuperOps Community! Whether you’re a newbie or a seasoned user, dive into discussions, explore resources, and stay updated on the latest SuperOps features. From e-signatures to integrations, your input matters. Join their exclusive webinars with MSP Marketing Expert Paul Green and connect with top contributors. Elevate your SuperOps experience—join the community now!
For more details, visit the SuperOps MSP Community
Tech Tribe Local Tribal Gatherings
Open to everyone in the MSP community, including vendors, IT Professionals, and IT business owners, The Tech Tribe Local Tribal Gatherings are a series of monthly meetups around the world.
Attendance is open to Tech Tribers and non-Tech Tribers alike.
For more details, including venues, check out The Tech Tribe Local Tribal Gatherings page.
Trust X Alliance
Ingram Micro’s customer community, Trust X Alliance, is a global community with over 370 solution providers including 30 in the UK.
Their focus is to support the active growth of their partner businesses and offer members a significant competitive and profitable advantage in their market including creating programs and services to help MSPs better manage their business, reduce costs, gain competitive advantage, assist in emerging markets & solutions and help them to achieve economies of scale enjoyed by larger Solution Providers whilst differentiating themselves from their competitors.
They hold 10 meetings each year for primary members (business owners or directors) and the sub-programs meet either monthly or bi-monthly.
For more details, you can visit the US website of Trust X Alliance or email Penny Thompson in the UK.
TruPeer in collaboration with Kaseya
Recently launched in EMEA, this program kicks off in January 2024, featuring its inaugural in-person meeting in May 2024. Discover the art of working smarter, not harder, by seamlessly integrating strategic training with the unwavering support of your TruPeer group. This unique experience blends the benefits of a conventional industry peer group with comprehensive training, mentoring, and accountability. The goal is clear: support a proven approach to constructing a top-performing MSP.
For more details, you can visit the following sites: TruMethods, TruPeer and ITEUROPA.
UK Azure User Group
Meeting monthly in London, Birmingham, and other locations in the UK to discuss and consult on Microsoft’s Azure cloud computing platform.
For more details visit the UK Azure User Group meetup page.
UK Windows Virtual Desktop User Group
UKWVDUG is a User Group focusing on Microsoft Windows Virtual Desktop and technologies related to the service.
The meetings are a mixture of virtual and in-person meetings.
For more details, visit the UK Windows Virtual Desktop User Group meetup page.
Yammer User Group
An occasional meet-up for Office 365 and Yammer users in London.
For more details visit the Yammer User Group meetup page.
Other Groups
If you have a User or Peer Group you’d like me to list, then please contact me.
Comments
2 thoughts on A List of User Groups for Managed Service Providers
PORTER
30TH APRIL 2019 20:52:51
I really wanted to continue reading! I'll absolutely apply some of the ideas myself, you're brilliant. Do you have a subscriber list that I can also join?
RICHARD TUBB
3RD MAY 2019 09:36:43
Porter -- thank you! You can subscribe to my newsletter at https://tubblog.co.uk/nl