A large number of business leaders will only appoint a woman into a very senior post in times of crisis and poor performance, according to a new report from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD).

It says this leaves them more likely to fail than their male counterparts, and is a form of discrimination.

Dianah Worman, CIPD diversity adviser, says: “Female leaders are all too often set up to fail. Due to limited opportunities open to female leaders many are forced to take the more difficult jobs in organisations with a history of poor performance, perpetuating the myth that women are poor performers in senior positions, and covering up the true extent of discrimination for the most desirable senior management positions.

“But the growth in the number of successful small businesses owned by women goes someway to indicate their business and leadership capabilities and highlights the talent other large organisations are missing.”

The research - Women in the boardroom: the risks of being at the top, carried out by Exeter University, has been criticised by Hitchenor Wakeford. Managing director Danny Hodgson says: “I think most women and businesses will find the interpretation of this research as patronising. Business leaders and recruiters more pragmatic than the CIPD gives them credit for. In my experience they appoint the person who will give them the best commercial advantage - irrespective of whether they are male or female.”