NSDC And Britannia Launch Empowering Women Entrepreneurship Programme

In a pivotal move towards empowering women entrepreneurs and spurring economic growth, the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) has launched a Women Entrepreneurship Programme. This initiative aims to tackle the challenges faced by women in entrepreneurship by offering crucial skills, knowledge and networking opportunities.

The programme has been launched with the introduction of complimentary self-learning basic entrepreneurship courses available in multiple languages on the Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH). Upon completion of these courses, participants will receive a co-branded certificate from NSDC, Britannia Industries and National Institute for Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development (NIESBUD), acknowledging their entrepreneurial skills and competencies. This initiative aims to empower approximately 25,00,000 women across India, providing them with the skills, knowledge and resources needed to start and grow successful businesses.

The initiative will culminate in a grand finale where the top 50 contestants will present their business ideas to a distinguished jury. To further encourage innovation and excellence, Britannia Industries will award financial grants of Rs 10,00,000 each to 10 of the most successful contestants.

The Indian government is dedicated to supporting women entrepreneurs through opportunities for essential skills development, access to free self-learning courses and comprehensive incubation support. This programme is designed to address the distinct challenges that women face when starting and growing businesses. In partnership with Britannia Industries, the initiative will also offer financial grants and feature their products and services on the Skill India Digital Hub, reflecting a strong commitment to fostering an inclusive environment for women entrepreneurs.

Aligning with the government’s commitment to fostering women's entrepreneurship, this programme will be implemented in multiple phases to ensure comprehensive support and maximum impact.

Divided into two phases, NSDC, with support from the National Institute for Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development (NIESBUD), will offer free online self-learning entrepreneurship courses through the Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH). These courses, available in multiple languages, will cover crucial topics such as entrepreneurial skills, enterprise setup, finance basics, digital skills and market analysis.

In the next phase, NSDC extends robust incubation support to 10,000 shortlisted contestants across 100 business models. This support encompasses business model selection, entrepreneurship development programmes, industrial workshops, business registration assistance, project report preparation and guidance on funding through various government entrepreneurship and startup schemes. Additionally, participants’ products and services will be highlighted on SIDH’s e-commerce platform, UdhyamKart and Britannia’s digital ecosystem for women entrepreneurship.

NSDC will conduct periodic impact assessments to evaluate the success and sustainability of the supported businesses, ensuring the programmes long-term effectiveness.

This initiative marks a significant effort to broaden the reach and visibility of women-led enterprises, creating a supportive ecosystem that empowers women entrepreneurs to realise their full potential. The partnership between NSDC and Britannia highlights a shared commitment to cultivating an environment where women entrepreneurs can flourish and significantly contribute to India’s economic advancement