Portfolio working by female interim managers is becoming the norm in interim management, according to new research of 1,400 female interim managers, polled by Interimwomen.

Portfolio working is where interims work for a number of different clients rather than just one. The research, conducted by the UK business forum for women working as interim managers, set up by Russam GMS, revealed that a third of interims prefer to handle a number of assignments part time.

Also, 57% said they were happy to work for either one or more clients and just 9% of interims said they prefer to work on one assignment at a time. Eight out of 10 women questioned claimed they already had a portfolio career, with two thirds working for two to three clients, 15% working for three to four clients and 8% working for four to five clients.

Karen Oddey, director of Interimwomen, says: “Interims are embracing portfolio working and the challenge of handling multiple assignments partly out of choice and partly as a result of market forces.

“While portfolio work is hugely challenging it can also be rewarding and provide the kinds of diverse challenges and opportunities that many women are looking for in their careers.”