British Council faces more job cuts to help pay off £197m loan (opens original article in a new tab)

The British Council is planning additional job cuts and country operations closures to manage a £197m loan, with negotiations ongoing for a 15-year repayment plan amid financial losses and staff protests.

• British Council faces further job cuts and closure of operations in 11 countries to repay £197m loan
• The agency has incurred £184m in losses since the pandemic and is not expected to turn a profit until 2029-30
• Negotiations with FCDO focus on repaying the loan within 15 years through staff reductions and asset sales
• Staff protests and calls for debt write-off have occurred, but the FCDO and Treasury rejected the proposal