Plans to boost the number of women employed in senior positions are being outlined by the Government and private sector groups.
Over the past few weeks aides to Patricia Hewitt, the trade and industry secretary, have held meetings with a number of business representatives and headhunters, aiming at removing tackling the so-called 'glass ceiling' affecting UK business.
New efforts to promote female executives include the launch of a register of women suitable for executive and non-executive positions.
Hilarie Owen, founder of the Institute of Leadership, explained the problem to the Guardian: "Report after report highlights the low number of women on UK boards.
"We're keen to make companies realise that the right director can bring competence, skills and experience to a board, thereby adding balance to the existing team and strengthening the overall company performance."
Earlier this year reports found that among the top 350 firms, only three per cent of executive directors are women and eight per cent of non-executives are female.
Ms Owen has outlined plans to create a "network of women who have the potential to go on to boards", starting with seminars in seminars in London, Manchester, Cardiff and Glasgow.
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