There are 28 female company chiefs and 77 FDs out of more than 1,400 companies quoted on the London Stock Exchange’s junior market, according to the data compiled by Growth Company Investor, a sister title of GrowthBusiness.

AIM’s female bosses include Kate Bleasdale, executive vice-chair of recruiter Healthcare Locums; Xin Yingmei, CEO of Chinese software developer Sinosoft Technology; and Maureen Jones, MD of resources company Conroy Diamonds & Gold.

Derek Pilcher, MD of executive job website TheLadders.co.uk, says female talent often remains untapped because of closed recruitment procedures for high-level roles.

Adds Pilcher, ‘Without a shadow of a doubt, there is a tier of female executives just below board level who are capable, competent, and have the skills to add a different and more balanced approach to company strategy.’

There are five women CEOs in the FTSE 100 since the recent inclusion of power station operator Drax, whose chief executive is Dorothy Thompson.