More needs to be done to provide working mothers with flexible job opportunities and close the gender pay gap, according to social enterprise Women Like Us.

Commenting on the update of The Women and Work Commission report, a review of the Commission’s findings and recommendations from the first report in 2006, Janice Lopatkin, head of policy at Women Like Us, says: “The report has had an enormous impact on Women Like Us, which has expanded in the last three years due to the unprecedented demand from women to get back to work.

“We are concerned that the pay gap has actually widened over the past couple of years, and it shows just how much needs to be done. There are still 500,000 women with children across the UK who want to return to work, but are concerned they will not find the job they need with hours that fit with family life.

“The availability of good quality part-time work is still the key to helping these 500,000 women back to work.”