The Government in the UK is clearly conscious that there are women working in the financial services industry who face difficulties getting equal status with their male peers in terms of pay, opportunities and career progression. Both the Equality and Human Rights Commission and the Treasury Select Committee are conducting inquiries into sex discrimination in the finance sector.

But while the Government appears to be taking steps to address gender equality issues, nearly half of women working in financial services do not think its intervention would help close the gender pay gap, according to a Financial News survey.