Lobbyists have criticised the “softly, softly” approach taken by some in financial services after FN analysis found the proportion of women in senior positions at large banks has barely moved in the last year.

Women make up 45, or 18%, of all 244 executives registered as senior managers at nine of the largest foreign banks in the UK, according to an FN review of the latest numbers from the Financial Conduct Authority. This is one percentage point higher than a year ago when there were 41 women and 241 executives.