22 August 2025 - SSG25 P Hamilton
What was I looking forward to about SSG25?
Attending an IT conference was an opportunity to immerse myself in the latest innovations, trends, and best practices shaping the future of technology and service improvement. As a Service Delivery Manager, I was keen to see how other universities were solving problems and improving areas of their work that are common in the sector
- Learning from Industry Leaders: Hearing firsthand from experts and pioneers in the field to get fresh insights and practical strategies I can bring back to my role.
- Networking with Peers: Connecting with other professionals in IT and service management, collaborating and sharing challenges and innovative solutions.
- Exploring Emerging Technologies: I was excited to see how cutting-edge tools are being applied to drive continual service improvement.
- Bringing Back Value: Acquiring knowledge to support our goals for innovation, efficiency, and excellence in service delivery.
What were your first impressions?
The venue was really nice and well situated near the docks and the town centre. Everything was set up very well, and the conference was easy to navigate. Liverpool is a vibrant city full of places to visit, so it was great to be located so centrally. The organisers went to great lengths to make attendees feel welcome and supported, and to break down inhibitions or barriers in order to encourage collaboration and ideas sharing.
Top 3 Takeaways
- You're not alone! It's easy to feel that the challenges in your own workplace are unique, but it was reassuring to see that other teams were also trying to improve their services in similar ways.
- Empathy and happiness in the workplace are important. It was nice to see a couple of presentations centred around the more human aspects of our jobs, rather than everything being about technology!
- Idea Sharing. What stood out most was the atmosphere. Everyone seemed genuinely excited to share ideas, ask questions, and learn from each other. It felt like being part of a community that’s not just keeping up with change but actively driving it.
Top recommendation for someone attending SSG25 Conference for the first time
Have a clear set of goals before you arrive but also come with an open mind. The conference covered a wide range of subjects - I was particularly keen to learn more about Enterprise Service Management, AI Chatbots and Agile Student Centred Service Management. But there were also a range of talks and breakout sessions that were informative and helpful that I wasn't looking out for, such as Team Culture, Happiness, Asset Management and Neurodiversity. Even though they weren't the sessions I was looking to attend, they offered useful insights and gave me great ideas to take back and apply to my role and workplace.
