The government needs to do more to encourage women to enter IT professions, according to specialist recruitment consultancy IntaPeople.

The firm’s research shows that the percentage of applications made by female workers has dropped by 1.7% in the last 12 months.

Phil Handley, operations director at IntaPeople, says: “The government is placing a strong emphasis on technology as part of its latest enterprise plans, so now is an ideal time for it to take positive steps towards ensuring that more women are involved in IT and technology.”