Here’s five of the good news headlines from SQLBits that we’re celebrating this week as we reflect on a fantastic (and very hot!) 2025 running.
Provided free childcare for attendees
Once again, we provided a creche for attendees’ children. Used across all four days, this year’s creche received outstanding feedback and enabled several parents to attend SQLBits. This is the fourth year of providing completely free childcare, and along with our policy of welcoming attendees family and children along to the evening events, is a factor that really sets SQLBits apart.
Gave 900 people a day of world class training for free
One completely unique feature of SQLBits is the commitment of the organisers to offering a free day on the Saturday, in order to enable those who can’t get the budget or time off to attend the paid days earlier in the week. The quality and variety of sessions and speakers remains the same as earlier in the week, the exhibition hall is open for business, breakfast, lunch and snacks are included, there’s SQLBits goodie bags for all, and the customary prize draw at the final break of the day sees an opportunity to win big as sponsors give away their final prizes of the conference.
Donated £1,000 to charity
SQLBits’ charity of 2025 was the National Museum of Computing, the world’s largest collection of working historic computers, based at Bletchley Park. This fantastic charity was chosen by longstanding SQLBits helper, Dr Victoria Holt, in honour of her mum, Joan Frances Holt (nee Clark), and we raised over £1,000 through swag sales, plus individual donations to the charity. Read more about the charity here.
Announced SQLBits 2026 dates
For the first time in SQLBits history, we announced dates for the next SQLBits at this year’s event – ICYMI we are running from the 22-25 April with the venue tbc.
Hosted a great Microsoft keynote
Shireesh Thota, Priya Sathy, Bob Ward, Patrick Leblanc and others from headline sponsors Microsoft took to the stage on Thursday to deliver their 2025 keynote, asking the big questions about how Azure can empower users to effectively manage their data estate and enhance decision-making. You can watch it for free now here!
