The latest findings from a government-backed report have found that the number of women in top business roles is still too low.

According to the Hampton-Alexander Review, only 25 women in FTSE 350 companies are in chair roles and only six in the FTSE 100 are chief executives.

While the review recognised progress has been made, it said there is still room for improvement and urged companies to work harder to address the issue.

A stronger focus on recruitment processes and talent pipelines that involve and encourage women is required, and should become an ‘essential’ not a ‘nice to have’.

It’s good to see things have moved forward since this was first formally raised in the Davies Review in 2011. But the fact gender diversity in the boardroom is still making headlines is a sad sign that we’re not there yet.

We may be close; but not close enough. Work is still needed.

Read more on the Hampton-Alexander Review website.