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GTIA On Location touched down in Manchester, UK for the UK & Ireland Community Forum and Spotlight Awards, bringing together the region's members for a day of collaboration, learning and celebration. From growing membership numbers to the conversations shaping AI and cybersecurity across the channel, the energy in the room made one thing clear: The UK and Ireland community is only getting stronger.
Below is a roundup of key moments and featured videos worth your time.
What Were IT Service Providers Talking About?
- Why AI and cybersecurity are finally being discussed in the same breath—and why that shift is overdue
- How to deliver AI in a secure, compliant manner instead of rolling it out and hoping for the best
- The growing overlap between distributors, vendors and MSPs, and why credibility and trust are what keep those partnerships sustainable
- Why community-led resources—like the member-built data and AI guidebook—often deliver more value than a costly consultancy engagement
- The push to get MSPs and ITSPs into board-level conversations with customers, not just day-to-day operational ones
- Underused member benefits, from the ISAO's real-time threat sharing to the Technology Buyers Journey and State of the Industry reports
Featured Videos to Watch
UK & Ireland Community Forum and Spotlight Awards: Highlights
From an exclusive (and unexpectedly charming) interview with community mascot Blackpoint Betty to a full recap of the day, this highlight reel captures the spirit of the event—collaboration, charitable giving through initiatives like Tech She Can and Teen Tech, and growing momentum across ITSP, vendor and distributor membership.
Boardroom Conversations: AI and Cybersecurity for MSPs
Scott Campbell sits down with Michael Conway, director at Renaissance, to talk about what it takes to keep vendors and MSPs happy from the middle of the channel's value chain. Conway shares how nearly 40 years in distribution has shaped Renaissance's approach to vetting vendors, why credibility is earned rather than claimed, and how AI is reshaping the conversations distributors are having with both vendors and end customers. His advice for MSPs looking for their next big opportunity: Get closer to the boardroom, not just the ticket queue.
Just Getting Started: GTIA UK & Ireland Leaders Say More Growth, Member Value Is on the Way
Scott Campbell talks with UK & Ireland community leaders Dan Scott, IT nation community manager, EMEA at ConnectWise and Hollie Whittles, HR director at Purple Frog Systems, Ltd., about a year of growth across every membership category and the member-driven resources—like the community-built data and AI guidebook—that came directly out of listening sessions with members. The conversation covers why the ISAO remains one of the community's most underused benefits, the mentors and members who inspire their own leadership, and practical advice for getting more out of a GTIA membership, from the mentor program to company-wide engagement.
Watch the Full Playlist
These videos are just a sampling of the conversations GTIA captured in Manchester. The full playlist includes additional interviews and moments from across the UK & Ireland Community Forum and Spotlight Awards.
Explore the complete GTIA On Location at the UK & Ireland Community Forum and Spotlight Awards playlist
Keep the Conversation Going
GTIA On Location continues to bring the channel's most important conversations directly to the community—wherever the industry gathers next. Subscribe to the GTIA YouTube channel and follow along to stay connected with the voices shaping what's ahead.
