The British Council signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on March 17, 2026, to support women’s entrepreneurship and skills development through SPARK – The 100K Collective in India. The initiative aims to empower one lakh women entrepreneurs across 300 locations in the country.
About the Initiative
The MoU was signed in partnership with the Women’s Collective Forum and the Alliance for Global Good – Gender Equity and Equality, founded by Smriti Irani. SPARK is designed as a systems-level response to create stronger enterprises, connect them to markets, embed them in governance, and position them on the global stage.
Focus on the “Missing Middle”
The programme specifically targets women in the “missing middle” segment – those who have moved beyond small-scale operations but face challenges in scaling their businesses due to limited access to skills, networks, and resources. The British Council will provide training in English, communication, and digital skills.
Key Voices
Smriti Irani, Founder – Alliance for Global Good
Highlighted that advancing gender equity requires strong collaboration across institutions and sectors.
Scott McDonald, Chief Executive – British Council
Emphasised that education, skills, and connections are powerful drivers of opportunity, and that supporting women to build capabilities is central to their vision.
Lindy Cameron, British High Commissioner to India
Noted that the initiative would help women entrepreneurs strengthen their participation in global supply chains by enhancing English language capabilities.
Expected Impact
The collaboration aims to build a stronger ecosystem for women-led enterprises by focusing on skills development, governance, digital adoption, and leadership – enabling women entrepreneurs to contribute more actively to India’s economic growth.