Zurich UK has seen a fivefold increase in the number of new female part-time staff, since it started offering all jobs on a part-time or flexible basis in 2019.

The new policy led to female part-time hires jumping from 23 to 119 per year. It requires the company to advertise every vacancy with the option of applying on a part-time, flexible or job-share basis, and the use of gender-neutral language in adverts, as reported by HR Magazine.

Since its introduced, the policy has seen a 16% increase in the number of women applying for jobs at the insurance firm, which used to have a headquarters in Cheltenham.

It has made a big difference to the number of women in senior roles at the company. In the 12 months to January 2023, Zurich hired 45% more women into senior roles compared with the same period in 2019.

Previously, many of Zurich's jobs failed to offer any flexible working options, despite demand for part-time and flexible working from job seekers.

Language in job ads was screened by a third-party organisation to make sure it wouldn't put women off applying.