CEOs must articulate personal reasons for backing gender parity in the workplace if they really want to encourage more women in to top roles, research has suggested.

FTSE 350 companies have been urged to increase the number of women in their boardrooms by business secretary Vince Cable.

The proportion of women sitting on FTSE 100 boards has hit 20% for the first time, suggesting the UK might meet the Lord Davies target of 25% next year without quotas.

Almost a third of senior executives doubt the value of gender diversity in the boardroom, research has suggested.

To help promote top female talent, organisations need to “do more than mentor”, Ursula Brennan, permanent secretary at the Ministry of Justice, said yesterday.

Shadow chancellor Ed Balls has urged businesses to respond to the biggest survey ever attempted into women’s experiences of work.

On the face of it, the fact the proportion of women on FTSE 100 and 250 boards has increased since 2011 is progress. However, the figures behind this headline trend reveal the change has been almost...

Businesses must "dramatically change" working practices to prevent mothers feeling "shoved aside" when returning to work, deputy prime minister Nick Clegg, has said.

German companies listed on the stock exchange will need to ensure at least 30% of their supervisory board is made up of women from 2016, the German Government has announced.

The head of HSBC has called for a change in its workplace practices and culture, claiming the banking giant is "too pale and male for our own good".

Women now account for 19% of FTSE 100 and 15% of FTSE 250 board positions, a report from Cranfield School of Management has found.

An NHS foundation trust has achieved a 50:50 gender split at board level, while the private sector is still 6% off reaching its target of 25% of women on company listed boards by 2015.