Viking Arms Defence Supports e50K CIC Training for Armed Forces Families
June 11, 2026
Viking Arms Defence has supported e50K CIC with a £3,600 investment to help deliver two days of in-person education, training and team development for a workforce made up largely of military spouses and partners.
The funding removed the financial barrier that had prevented e50K CIC from running its annual training programme in person for the last three years. It enabled all 10 members of the e50K team to come together for two full days of immersive learning, practical training and shared development.
For a team that works flexibly across the UK and overseas, this time together was more than a training event. It strengthened relationships, supported collaboration and helped build the internal capability needed to continue delivering meaningful outcomes for Armed Forces families, veterans and the wider Defence community.
Who is e50K CIC?
e50K CIC is a Community Interest Company that works to strengthen the resilience, wellbeing and long-term opportunities of Armed Forces families, veterans and the communities they live within.
Its work is built around five key pillars:
- Engagement
- Employment
- Education
- Enterprise
- Environment
Through place-based delivery, practical support and evidence-led programmes, e50K CIC helps create opportunities for those who are often overlooked within the Defence community. As a CIC, all income is reinvested into expanding impact, scaling effective programmes and supporting the people and communities it serves.
Why Viking Arms Defence supported the programme
At Viking Arms Defence, supporting the military community goes beyond equipment supply. As a business that works closely with police, military and government customers, we understand the importance of resilience, capability and practical support across the wider Defence ecosystem.
e50K CIC’s work directly supports Armed Forces families, spouses, veterans and local communities. Its model provides practical, measurable social value and helps people build confidence, skills and opportunity.
By funding the two-day training programme, Viking Arms Defence helped e50K bring its remote team together in person, covering essential costs including venue, accommodation, travel and catering.
What the funding made possible
The investment enabled e50K CIC to deliver its full creative training model in the way it was originally designed.
Unlike traditional policy training, e50K’s approach asks each team member to take ownership of one policy, understand it fully and then teach it back to the rest of the team using any method they choose, with one rule: no standard PowerPoint presentations.
This format encourages:
- Creative thinking
- Confidence
- Public speaking
- Clear communication
- Practical understanding of policies
- Team learning and peer support
Being together in person made a significant difference. It created space for discussion, problem-solving, informal learning and team connection in a way that online delivery cannot always achieve.
Across the two days, each team member completed 20 hours of learning, including two seven-hour training days and three hours of shared learning and reflection each evening. For a team of 10, this created 200 collective learning hours.
Strengthening capability across the Defence community
The training programme helped e50K CIC strengthen its internal capability, improve team cohesion and build confidence across the organisation.
For a team made up of Defence spouses and partners, many of whom relocate frequently, flexible working is essential. It allows e50K to retain talented people despite the challenges of military life. However, remote working also means that opportunities to meet, collaborate and learn together in person are rare.
Viking Arms Defence’s support made that possible.
The result was a high-impact learning environment that will continue to benefit e50K CIC’s work long after the training days themselves.
Reflections from the e50K CIC team
Speaking about the training model, Quincey Ankrett, Executive Director at e50K CIC, said:
“When I devised this new way of training for e50K, I was clear that I never wanted anyone to come out of our training sessions saying, ‘that was boring — there’s three hours I won’t get back.’ Being in its fourth year now, I can safely say that’s never happened. It’s my favourite time of year.”
Eve Cherai, Financial Officer, said:
“It gave me a platform to be myself, to learn in a way that is comfortable for me, but also to learn about the policies in a way in which I also learnt something about myself, that I can do so much more than I think.”
Hollie Pritchard, Senior Associate, added:
“Delivering in person made everyone push the inclusivity and creativity a bit more. There was definitely more of a competitive edge this year, and there were some amazing presentations.”
Rachael Ladd, Executive Director, said:
“I love the way this allows us to come together and play on the different personalities and strengths of the team in a way in which traditional training does not.”
Investing in people, resilience and long-term impact
For Viking Arms Defence, this partnership reflects a wider commitment to supporting the people and communities connected to Defence.
By investing in e50K CIC’s team development, Viking Arms Defence helped strengthen an organisation that is already delivering practical, community-focused support to Armed Forces families, veterans and Defence communities.
The funding did not simply support a training event. It helped create the conditions for stronger relationships, better collaboration and greater organisational resilience.
That impact will continue through the work e50K CIC delivers every day.
About Viking Arms Defence
Viking Arms Defence supports police, military and government customers with specialist equipment, training and advice. Working closely with end-users and trusted suppliers, the team provides practical solutions that meet the operational needs of those serving on the front line.
Viking Arms Defence is proud to support initiatives that strengthen the UK Defence community and help build resilience across the wider military ecosystem.
