It happens far more often than you think. Female high flyers made redundant while on maternity leave or shortly after returning to work, or finding their careers stagnating and promotion opportunities drying up.

Some of those that go missing may leave the long hours culture of the City by choice for a better work/life balance, but there are a large number on whom that decision is forced by their employer. This is despite the fact that many of those women take shortened maternity leave periods, have full time childcare, and aren't asking for flexible work upon their return.