The British Council, UK’s international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Women’s Collective Forum and the Alliance for Global Good – Gender Equity and Equality to support SPARK – The 100K Collective, an initiative aimed at strengthening skills, leadership, and networks for women entrepreneurs across India. Through this MoU, the British Council will contribute its expertise in English language and communication skills to help women entrepreneurs build confidence, strengthen business capabilities, and access wider networks and markets.
The MoU signing took place at the British Council in New Delhi on Mar 17 in the presence of senior leaders and partners, marking a shared commitment to advancing opportunities for women entrepreneurs and supporting inclusive economic participation. Through this collaboration, the partners aim to strengthen the support ecosystem for women-led enterprises by building skills, expanding networks, and enabling women entrepreneurs to contribute more actively to India’s growth story.
Speaking on the occasion, Smriti Irani, Founder of the Alliance for Global Good – Gender Equity and Equality and Former Union Minister, Government of India, said “The Alliance for Global Good – Gender Equity and Equality was founded on the belief that advancing gender equity requires strong collaboration across institutions and sectors. Women entrepreneurs across India are already demonstrating extraordinary leadership and resilience. By strengthening access to skills, resources, and supportive networks, initiatives such as this can help women scale their ambitions into sustainable enterprises and participate more fully in shaping India’s economic future.”
SPARK is not an isolated project but a systems-level response—creating stronger enterprises, connecting them to markets, embedding them in governance, and positioning them on the global stage.
British Council’s collaboration with SPARK – The 100K Collective reflects a shared commitment to expanding opportunities for women to participate more fully in India’s economic growth by strengthening the ecosystem that supports women-led enterprises. Scott McDonald, Chief Executive, British Council, said “At the British Council, we see education, skills and connections as powerful drivers of opportunity. Supporting women to build the capabilities they need to grow their businesses and participate fully in the economy is an important part of that vision. Through this collaboration, we’re pleased to bring our experience in English and skills development to support women entrepreneurs in strengthening their communication, expanding their networks, and growing their enterprises with confidence.”
