We did it! We took Network Group to Belfast (our first foray overseas) for our final event of the year, ConfEx. Taking place at the iconic Europa Hotel.
We did it! We took Network Group to Belfast (our first foray overseas) for our final event of the year, ConfEx. Taking place at the iconic Europa Hotel – famously known as “Europe’s most bombed hotel” – our event was indeed, the bomb!!!! ... (excuse the pun)!
Supported by headline sponsor Apogee, the event delivered a packed agenda over two days that explored everything from mergers and acquisitions to AI-driven transformation, account management excellence and even a little mind reading!
Here’s a roundup of some of the key themes we covered:
Navigating the M&A landscape: understanding your exit options
Based on feedback from our community it’s clear that succession planning is high on the agenda for many MSPs. Day 1 went deep on this topic bringing together expert speakers, each with a distinct experience and perspective on how to approach one of the most significant milestones in a business owner’s journey:
- Steffan Dancy, Rydal Group – sharing insights from completing over a dozen acquisitions and what buyers really look for in today’s market.
- Ken Roulston, MSP M&A Consultant – drawing on his experience buying 11 MSPs and exiting twice, offering candid guidance on preparing for sale and maximising value.
- Gareth Johns, ex-BCS Owner – providing a balanced view of Employee Ownership Trusts (EOTs) as an alternative route, exploring both their advantages and potential drawbacks.
- Mark Dunscombe, MJD Systems – discussing family succession, and the unique challenges and rewards of keeping a business within the family.
What followed was an open and honest conversation covering everything from valuation and buyer expectations to culture, legacy, and staff wellbeing. Kudos to our speakers and special thanks to Robert Bufano, Director of Service Leadership at ConnectWise, who came all the way from America to moderate our panel discussion.
You can hear more about this session in our latest podcast: NGage: The MSP Sessions -Episode 5: M&A Special
When in Belfast …
Our community is at the heart of everything we do, and after a busy afternoon we were ready for some well-deserved downtime and a chance to network with peers & partners … followed by some entertainment from the ridiculously talented Aaron Calvert, mind-reader, hypnotist, throw in some Guiness … mind literally blown!!
Ready for Day 2
Day 2 shifted focus with a two-tier agenda – one track dedicated to our business owners and the other aimed at the Sales & Account Management leaders within our Member businesses.
Account Management in focus:
Jack Cooke of Kaseya focussed on segmenting accounts, identifying white space, and managing scope creep — providing a clear framework for boosting MRR and project opportunities.
Next, David Tulip and Cirion Townsley of Egnyte explored AI as the biggest sales opportunity in a generation, showing how deep research and intelligent data can transform the way account teams engage and sell.
Finally, Brook Lee from Liongard reframed the humble business review into a growth engine, sharing proven methods to strengthen client relationships and position MSPs as trusted advisors.
Business owner focus
The day kicked off with our Partner Panel which tackled some of the biggest challenges facing MSPs today - tool sprawl,squeezed margins, saturated markets and ever-rising client expectations.
The key message from the panel? Heading into 2026, it’s NOT about doing more … it’s about doing better. Every service should deliver measurable value, profit and stickiness.
Huge thanks to our panellists for sharing practical advice on how to audit,refine and repackage portfolios for maximum impact: Melvyn White from Rewst,John Rawl from Pax8, Phil McGowan, CISSP from Huntress,Tim Coach from Cynomi, Alastair Goodwin from Adoptech and Mike Hague from ConnectWise.
Our Members were spoilt for choice during our breakout sessions. Wayne Cockerill inspired peers with his experience implementing a four-day week, Grenke explained how leasing options can help MSPs win business, Apogee shared how their solutions enhance operational efficiency and Robert Bufano provided an overview of SLI Essentials.
Our trademark Community Call went LIVE for the first time! Hosted by Jez Nolan, Craig Atkins, Marcus Evans and Dean Willingham, this was an open mic session - a chance to ask a question, get some advice on a pain point or maybe just for a bit of sanity in this lonely world of running a technology business!
Closing the morning Rob Rae of Pax8 took the room by storm, educating MSPs on moving closer to embracing AI as a new revenue stream … he was epic!
Day 2 wrapped up with our vendor expo, a fantastic chance for our Members to connect with our vendor partners. We heard exciting updates and got a sneak peek at some exciting launches that lie ahead for 2026!
A huge thank you to all our vendors for joining us in Belfast and making ConfEx 2025 such a success!
Apogee Corporation, Brigantia Partners Limited, ConnectWise, Cynomi, Huntress, Pax8, Rewst, ThreatLocker, ESET, ImmyBot, N-able, inforcer, TerraComputer UK, CyberSentriq, OpenText, SonicWall, TechnologyTo Go, Mesh - a Bitdefender company, Exclaimer, CloudOlive, Kaseya, Uptime, EthikaiConsulting, Egnyte, Liongard, Salesbuildr, grenke, RydalWholesale, NinjaOne, Sophos, ITGovernance Ltd.
Plans are already underway for next year’s events — and if you missed this one, there’s never been a better time to join our community! Get in touch to find out more.
