Establishing a flexible working situation was cited as a top priority for the majority of female interim managers quizzed as part of a recent survey.

Gaining flexibility, by working from home or outside the office or at more preferable times, was cited by 64 per cent of women polled by Russam GMS as the reason they decided to become an interim manager.

And just over three-quarters of respondents suggested that they had succeeded in creating a better working situation for themselves since they took up an interim management position.

"There is a huge talent pool of women on the market who have not yet considered interim management as a solution to balancing a challenging career with a more flexible working life, which as our research clearly showed, is a top priority," said Anna Bishell, business development manager at Russam GMS.

A report from telecoms company Orange recently encouraged businesses across the UK to make their flexible working practice more formally embedded as part of their operating procedures.