In today’s fast-moving digital landscape, staying ahead of the curve isn’t just a competitive advantage — it’s a necessity. At Capgemini, we’re proud to have a team of Microsoft Power Platform experts who are not only delivering cutting-edge solutions for our clients but also contributing to the evolution of the technology through active engagement with the Microsoft Community.

This article spotlights three of our Power Platform Solution Architects – Charles Sexton, Jacob Ansell, and Keith Atherton – whose deep technical expertise and active involvement in the Microsoft community are driving real change.

Charles and Keith are recognised Microsoft MVPs, whilst Jacob is a highly respected expert in the field.  Together they don’t just use the tools — they provide feedback and share insights, directly shaping how the technology is applied in real-world scenarios, and they bring that knowledge into the work we do.

Empowering Citizen Developers with Microsoft Power Platform

Microsoft Power Platform is a suite of low-code/no-code tools designed to empower users to build applications, automate processes, and harness AI — all without needing deep technical skills. It’s at the heart of a movement known as “Citizen Development,” where business users become creators of their own digital solutions.

Our team has been supporting a major UK government department in adopting Power Platform to modernise and streamline internal processes. The focus has been on enabling “business makers” — users within the organisation — to build secure, scalable solutions using tools like Power Apps and Power Automate.

Delivering Measurable Impact at Scale

The results speak for themselves. Our solutions have enabled business makers to automate over 4,884 manual processes, with nearly half of them built in the last six months alone.

These automations are saving more than 21,100 hours of manual effort every month delivering significant annual savings and freeing business makers to focus on what matters most.

To support this growth, the team developed a benefits tracking system using Power Platform, making it easy for stakeholders across the organisation to see the value being delivered in real time.

Responsible AI: Governance That Enables Innovation

AI is a powerful enabler — but only when it’s implemented responsibly. Jacob Ansell has been leading efforts to establish robust governance frameworks for AI within Power Platform, ensuring that new capabilities are unlocked safely and in alignment with public sector policies.

The team has focused on enabling features like Copilot (for smarter user experiences) and AI Builder (for creating custom AI models without code). One standout example is the automation of disease reporting in agriculture, which is expected to make considerable annual cost reductions by streamlining data ingestion and reporting.

Community Leadership: Learning, Sharing, Influencing

What truly sets this team apart is their unwavering commitment to the wider Microsoft and Power Platform community.

Their dedication to knowledge sharing is evident in their active presence at major industry events. This year alone, they’ve delivered sessions at the European Biz Apps Summit in Germany and the European Power Platform Conference in Vienna. At the latter, Charles Sexton and Keith Atherton co-presented a session on the main stage, discussing the latest advancements in Power Platform and inspiring attendees with real-world examples and lessons learned.

But their community involvement goes far beyond conferences. The team regularly lead workshops, participate in panel discussions, and volunteer their time to mentor young professionals and support local businesses. Whether it’s contributing to industry associations or helping others get started with Power Platform, they bring a collaborative spirit that benefits everyone they engage with.

Continuous learning is also a cornerstone of their approach. They actively seek out training opportunities, stay current with emerging trends, and bring that knowledge back into their project work — ensuring that clients benefit from the very latest thinking and capabilities.

This hands-on, outward-facing mindset doesn’t just elevate their own expertise — it strengthens Capgemini’s reputation as a trusted, forward-thinking partner in the Microsoft ecosystem.

Conclusion: Thought Leadership in Action

What sets this team apart isn’t just their technical skill — it’s their commitment to learning, sharing, and leading. By staying ahead of the curve and actively contributing to the Microsoft ecosystem, they’re able to deliver smarter, safer, and more impactful solutions for our clients.

Their work reflects the broader value Capgemini brings to public sector transformation. As Paul Harrison, Head of Microsoft Digital Customer Experience for Capgemini Europe, highlights:

“Capgemini’s expertise in Microsoft Power Platform helps government organisations to not only modernise but drive business value and innovation at pace — powered by AI. For citizens, this ultimately means more inclusive and accessible services.”

Whether it’s through automation, AI, or community engagement, this team demonstrates what’s possible when expertise meets passion.