It’s more than two years since Lord Davies of Abersoch published his damning research ‘Women on Boards’ that showed just how poorly are represented in the corridors of power.

The problem with suggesting quotas to fill for appointing women to the boards of major companies is fine – if you have a queue of suitably qualified and experienced candidates to choose from.

More research in to the subject – this time by consultancy firm Deloitte – reckons around one in three appointments to senior management among Britain’s biggest companies are now women.

However, there are appointments and appointments.

Lord Davies wants more women to make the decisions that matter in business, but few are getting the chance.

Trying to shoehorn women on to the board is only part of the answer. Training and development has to start much earlier so women can gain senior management experience.

One of the main reasons men have historically got their jobs comes down to time-serving and the old boy network.

Women fall short in both because they miss that crucial time that allows men learn the ropes of management.

What’s needed is more women in at lower management levels so more flow through the pipeline with the skills and knowledge needed for promotion.

This requires a cultural shift by women as well as men.

Women have to look at the hurdles they have to clear to reach higher management.

Both sides should consider the gender issues.

Women cannot pass the act of having a child to men – the issues has been with us since time began and will still be there in time to come.

Having children need not be a dead-end for women – they can still contribute to an organisation and can consider gaining more qualifications through training.

At the same time, employers have got to be willing to give women taking time for their families more support and encouragement to take an active part in the organisation.

Changing the workplace and the boardroom takes time and effort – just setting quotas for women on boards may tick some equality and diversity boxes isn’t the answer.

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