The volume of companies floating on the London Stock Exchange reached a seven-year high last year. But the line-up of directors running the floats did not look any different.

Of the 206 board members on companies which floated on London's main market, just 28 - or 13.6% - were female, according to Financial News's analysis of company IPO filings. Just four women were in an executive director role, typically meaning that they work for the business rather than provide outside advice.