Ignite the North: what Microsoft Ignite means for businesses in the North West

Microsoft Ignite runs in San Francisco from 17 to 20 November. It’s where Microsoft makes its biggest announcements of the year, and there will be a lot of them.

Two weeks later, we’re bringing what matters to Manchester.

Ignite the North is a free, in-person day for senior IT leaders and decision makers in North West businesses. We’ll cut through the announcements and focus on what they mean for mid-sized organisations: what to act on now, what to plan for, and what can wait.

The details

• When: Thursday 3 December 2026, 10am to 5pm
• Where: x+why, 100 Embankment, Manchester
• Cost: Free
• Places: Around 80, confirmed individually

What’s on?

Keynote.

We open with a keynote speaker, to be announced soon.

Four breakout sessions.

Four practical 30-minute sessions across Azure infrastructure, remote working, disaster recovery and security. We’re confirming the line-up once Microsoft Ignite wraps up, so every session reflects the latest announcements. Full details will follow on 23 November.

Closing talk: Mark Agnew, Find Your Polar Bear.

Lying in his tent in the Arctic, Mark Agnew was woken by a deep, guttural growl. A polar bear was trying to get in. It happened on a 103-day expedition kayaking the Northwest Passage, where Mark and his team set two world firsts and he was named European Adventurer of the Year. He closes the day with hard-won lessons on thriving when the ground shifts beneath you, which matters for any business keeping up with fast-moving technology.

Drinks and networking.

From 4pm, a chance to talk through what you’ve heard with peers from across the region.

Your host for the day is Izzy Panton of The Overlap.

Who it’s for

IT directors, heads of IT and senior technology decision makers in North West businesses. Whether you’re already running on Azure or still weighing up your options, you’ll leave with a clearer view of what’s changed and what it means for you.