MORE women in Worcestershire are taking managerial jobs in business - but many still earn less than men and combine it with the traditional wife and mother role.

Louise Hewett, head of Hewett Recruitment in Worcester, said there were very few women managers when she set up her business 21 years ago.

"When I first started going to the Chamber of Commerce there were very few women. Now there are a lot more at their meetings. It is very hopeful," she said.

"But women still earn less than men and female directors are definitely in the minority."

Ms Hewett said some women were held back by self-doubt and their career paths broken when they started families.

"Some women don't consider they deserve the higher positions but they can do it," said Ms Hewett, Worcestershire Businesswoman of the Year.

She said with the current skills shortage it was important for employers to support female staff who wanted to have a family and find ways to help them return to work.

"They've got to become more family- friendly," she said.

Kidderminster accountants Horwath Clark Whitehill set up a breakfast club and discovered, despite the increasing number of women managers, very few attended.

Joanna Tolley, marketing manager, explained: "The breakfast meetings tend to be attended by men because women are doing the school run. They still have their traditional role as well as a professional one.

"There are more women getting into management and although the ones who come to the club are predominantly solicitors, bankers and accountants, there are more coming from industry.

"One of our members runs a printing business and another is head of a steel stockholders."