Sam Smethers, chief executive of The Fawcett Society, believes flexible working options are also key to tackling the gender pay gap.

“To address the unequal impact of caring roles between mums and dads we have to have flexibility first,” she writes, in Stylist’s Ask A Feminist column. “All jobs should be advertised on a flexible working basis unless there is a good business reason not to, and we must open up senior roles to part-time working.

“Failing to do so is a huge waste of women’s skills and expertise.”

Find out more about the new government scheme right here.

Images: iStock

New back-to-work scheme targets gaping gender pay gap