Over two thirds of women with childcare responsibilities feel they have lost out on career progression, research finds

Vicky Wainwright, president of Bradford Chamber of Commerce, said: “The findings from the British Chamber of Commerce and Find Out Now are shocking.

“They highlight the urgent need for radical and progressive reform of our attitude to the workplace.

“These issues are not only holding back the careers and ambitions of thousands of women, they are damaging Britain’s economy and society in depriving it of so much talent.”

The research also reveals that more than eight in ten (86 per cent) women disagree that there is sufficient support for people with caring responsibilities for elderly or disabled relatives or friends.

Released to coincide with International Women’s Day on March 8, BCC has outlined a three-year plan to deal with gender equality in the workplace.

The plan incudes the creation of a Chamber Workplace Equality Commission, which will analyse research findings and case studies, with the aim of developing policies for Government and best practices for businesses to enshrine equity in the workplace.

The survey also shows that almost three quarters of female respondents feel there is not sufficient support for those experiencing menopause. One in three who have gone through menopause felt that it impacted their career negatively.

For male respondents who have had childcare responsibilities, 35 per cent believed they missed out.

Shevaun Haviland, Director General of the BCC, said: “What women want is a level playing field. They don’t want handouts or a hand up, they simply want to make sure there are no barriers to career progression and face the same opportunities as their male counterparts. Tackling these issues is integral not only to the wellbeing of our women and workplaces, it is crucial to the functioning of any strong economy.”