More than half of UK firms do not favour a voluntary code of conduct ensuring diverse talent, according to research from finance staffing specialist Search Consultancy.

Following former minister Lord Davies urging FTSE 100 companies to sign up to a voluntary target of 25% female board representation by 2015, Search’s ‘Gender Contender’ research also reveals almost two-thirds of UK businesses are fundamentally opposed to any form of voluntary quota whatsoever.

Grahame Caswell, chief executive at Search Consultancy, says: “We salute the fact that the likes of AstraZeneca, Reckitt Benckiser and British Land have all appointed female directors since the publication of Lord Davies’ ‘Women on Boards Report’ earlier this year.

“What’s significant about our research findings, however, is that businesses across the country simply aren’t backing the concept of quotas per se. This is very different from saying they don’t advocate smashing the glass ceiling but rather they don’t believe FTSE companies should be subjected to playing a numbers game.”