New Delhi : Smriti Irani, founder of the Alliance for Global Good – Gender Equity and Equality, has signed a memorandum of understanding with the British Council to strengthen skill development for women entrepreneurs across India.

The partnership will support women through English language and digital communication training under the Spark 100K Collective, an initiative launched by Irani in 2025 to help women-led businesses grow with better access to resources, networks, and markets.

The new collaboration was formalised on Tuesday when Irani’s Women’s Collective Forum and the Alliance for Global Good signed the agreement with the UK-based cultural and educational organisation. The British Council will provide expertise in English language and communication skills to help women entrepreneurs build confidence, improve business communication, and connect with wider national and international markets.

India’s entrepreneurship ecosystem has grown rapidly over the past two decades. However, a significant gender gap remains. While the country has around 1.66 crore women-owned MSMEs and nearly 10 crore women participating in self-help groups, many women-led enterprises remain outside formal financial and market systems. Irani has described this gap as the “missing middle,” where businesses struggle to scale despite strong potential.

The Spark 100K Collective was launched to address this challenge. The programme aims to support one lakh women entrepreneurs in 300 cities across India, providing them with funding opportunities, skill development, and business support systems.

Speaking on the occasion, Irani said the Alliance was founded on the belief that advancing gender equity requires collaboration across sectors. She noted that women entrepreneurs in India have shown strong leadership and resilience, and initiatives like this can help them scale sustainable enterprises and contribute more actively to the country’s economic growth.

Susan Acland-Hood said the initiative highlights the power of language and communication in opening new opportunities. She noted that learning English can help entrepreneurs access markets, communicate effectively, and expand their businesses.

Lindy Cameron also welcomed the collaboration, describing the Spark programme as a powerful platform for women entrepreneurs to gain the skills needed to grow their businesses and become part of the global supply chain.

The Spark initiative includes several programmes designed to support women entrepreneurs at different stages. Spark Kaushal focuses on industry-relevant skills such as digital literacy and vocational training. Spark MBA functions as a business accelerator connecting participants with CSR and government skilling programmes.

Other components include Spark X, a leadership development programme for experienced entrepreneurs, and Spark Mitra, which provides mentorship to women starting their entrepreneurial journeys.

The initiative also includes financial and market access platforms. Spark Nidhi offers micro-credit and growth capital to women-led businesses, while Spark Bazaar connects entrepreneurs with domestic and global marketplaces through both digital and physical platforms.

The partnership with the British Council is expected to strengthen the programme’s capacity to equip women entrepreneurs with the communication skills needed to expand their businesses and participate more actively in the global economy.