Recruiters have welcomed Communities Secretary Ruth Kelly’s action plan to break down the barriers for women in the workplace.

The Government's action plan includes a raft of practical new measures addressing almost 40 recommendations made by the Women and Work Commission in their 'Shaping a Fairer Future' report. It will improve opportunities for women to get on at work and encourage a culture change within those companies and organisations still failing to see the huge economic potential of their female workforce.

Measures include: A major new 'Exemplar Employer Initiative. The Government will work with employers to develop programmes such as helping women returning from work access quality part-time work, flexible working for women and setting up job share registers. More than 80 organisations have already signed up for the scheme, ranging from high street names to small business to public sector organisations

Brian Wilkinson, who sits on the board of Vedior, which owns Select, said:

"We very much welcome this initiative. The flexibility offered through temporary work is an important ingredient in opening up more opportunities for women. In particular, those returning to employment after time out raising a family can use temporary work as an effective mechanism to re-introduce themselves into the workforce and to update their skills."