Evolution Proudly Sponsors the Royal Navy Biathlon Team

A reflection on partnership, shared values, and supporting those who serve

Last month, Evolution Founder Richard Lambert and Group Managing Director Risk & Design Brendan McGarrity had the privilege of visiting RM Condor for the inaugural Commandant Generals Cup, and the opening of the Royal Navy Biathlon Range, meeting General Sir Gwyn Jenkins, First Sea Lord and Commandant General Royal Marines.

It was a day that reinforced exactly why Evolution exists: to protect people, support excellence, and build partnerships rooted in shared values and mutual respect.

More Than Sponsorship: A Partnership Built on Shared Values

For Evolution, supporting the Royal Navy Biathlon Team isn't a marketing exercise, it's a natural extension of who we are as a company.

Biathlon is one of the most physically and mentally demanding sports in existence. It requires athletes to combine the cardiovascular endurance of cross-country skiing with the precision and mental control of rifle shooting - all while managing extreme weather conditions, high altitude, and intense competition pressure.

Sound familiar?

It's not unlike the environments our clients operate in: high-stakes, high-consequence situations where preparation, resilience, and the right support infrastructure can make all the difference.

"Watching the Royal Navy Biathlon Team train was humbling," reflects Brendan McGarrity. "The sheer physical and mental resilience required reminded me that elite performance in any field, whether military, security, or business, requires the right support infrastructure. That's something Evolution understands deeply."

Why This Partnership Matters

Our company values aren't just words on a wall. They guide every decision we make, including who we choose to support.

Ownership Accountability
Richard and Brendan didn't just write a sponsorship cheque. They personally engaged with the team, met with leadership, and invested time in understanding how Evolution can genuinely support the Armed Forces community. At Evolution, every partnership reflects our personal commitments.

People-First Protection
Our core value is protecting people. The Royal Navy embodies this principle daily. They exist to protect our nation and its citizens. Supporting those who protect others aligns perfectly with Evolution's mission.

Continuous Evolution
The Biathlon Team constantly pushes boundaries and adapts to extreme conditions. That mindset of continuous improvement, of always asking "how can we do this better?", mirrors our own approach to security innovation.

Purposeful Design
The Armed Forces operate in environments where security must protect without obstructing mission-critical operations. Our approach to creating proportionate, operationally-relevant security solutions resonates deeply with military requirements.

Trusted Advisors
Building relationships based on understanding, not transactions, is how we work, and it is how meaningful partnerships with the Armed Forces community should work too.

A Leader with Purpose

Meeting General Sir Gwyn Jenkins was one of the day's highlights. His genuine passion for his people, not just as service members, but as individuals pushing themselves to excel in every arena, was immediately evident.

In a message about the importance of sport in the Royal Navy, General Jenkins articulated three levels at which sport benefits the organisation:

"First, fitness is a warfighting essential. As a warfighting force, being fit and healthy and able to do our jobs to the best of our abilities is really important. Second, this is just good for our people. It builds team spirit of course, but it's also good psychologically and physiologically to be fit and able to take part in sport. And third is for the overall morale of the organisation. There is nothing quite like pushing yourself in a team, with your teammates, to generate a really high sense of organisational morale. It is just good for the Navy to take part in sport."

This philosophy resonated deeply with Evolution's leadership.

"The pride and professionalism radiating from every person we met was a reminder of why supporting the Armed Forces community matters beyond just sponsorship. The Royal Navy operates in high-risk, high-consequence environments - just like many of our clients," Brendan notes. "Supporting them reinforces our understanding of what real operational excellence looks like."

What Impressed Us Most

For both Richard and Brendan, watching the Biathlon Team in action was revelatory.

"The mental toughness required to compete in extreme conditions, often sub-zero temperatures, high altitude, while maintaining focus and technique is extraordinary," reflects Brendan. "These aren't just athletes; they are serving Royal Navy personnel who represent the UK on the world stage while fulfilling their military roles. The discipline and time management required is phenomenal."

The team ethos also stood out: every individual pushing themselves while supporting their teammates, embodying the best of military culture.

"Biathlon requires the same attributes we see in effective security operations: preparation, resilience, adaptability, and calm under pressure," says Brendan. "Watching them train reminded me that excellence in any field comes from consistent, relentless commitment."

Looking Ahead: Building a Long-Term Partnership

For Evolution, this is just the beginning.

"This isn't a one-off sponsorship for us," Brendan emphasises. "We want to build a long-term partnership that genuinely supports the team's development and competition success. As Evolution grows, we want this partnership to grow with us, which means more support, more visibility, more impact."

The team's competitive season begins in January, and Evolution will be following their progress closely, celebrating their achievements and looking for practical ways to increase support beyond financial sponsorship.

"Ultimately, we hope to see the team achieve success on the international stage, knowing Evolution played a small part in supporting their journey," says Brendan. "This partnership reinforces to our team and clients what Evolution stands for - backing excellence, resilience, and people who push boundaries."

A Shared Commitment to Excellence

At its heart, Evolution's sponsorship of the Royal Navy Biathlon Team is about shared values: resilience, accountability, excellence, and protecting what matters most - people.

Whether it is elite athletes representing their nation in extreme conditions, or security professionals protecting critical infrastructure, the fundamentals remain the same: the right preparation, the right support, and the right mindset make all the difference.

Evolution is proud to support the Royal Navy Biathlon Team and the wider Armed Forces community, not just as sponsors, but as partners invested in their success.

Here's to excellence, resilience, and the incredible men and women who serve.