Women execs rarer in small firms

The government's Women's Enterprise Task Force encourages women to set up businesses

Women are even less likely to be appointed to the board of an AIM-listed company than a FTSE 100 firm, according to the business advisory firm Deloitte.

Women make up only 3% of board members in companies listed on AIM, which is the stock exchange with no minimum size requirements for growing companies.

Companies listed on the FTSE 100 - the country's biggest listed companies - have 10% women on their boards.

The figure is 5% for FTSE SmallCap companies and 6% for the FTSE 250.

A recent report from the Equal Opportunities Commission predicted that it would take 60 years to have the same number of female directors as male at FTSE 100 firms - a rise from last year's projection of 40 years.

Earlier this month, the government set up the Women's Enterprise Task Force to encourage women to set up businesses.