Some of the UK’s top firms are taking a “one and done” approach to gender diversity by appointing a token woman to their board, a Government-backed review has found.

A small number of FTSE companies are “intentionally blocking progress”, according to Denise Wilson White, chief executive of the Hampton-Alexander review which was set up by Theresa May in 2016 to close the gender gap at the top of business.

Ms White told The Telegraph that some businesses are “still keeping their hand in the sand” and “turning a blind eye” to their lack of female leaders.

All big firms "know the right lines to say" when asked about gender diversity, she said, but despite the "warm words" and rhetoric, "many don't get it at all".

Last year, the Telegraph launched its Women in Business campaign aimed at encouraging the development of policies designed to help female entrepreneurs.