The gender balance must improve in UK technology and engineering sectors, one expert has said, calling for more female IT contractors.

Teresa Schofield, regional leader of the Global Marathon Europe, said that too often, women end up working in the public sector as it tends to offer more benefits for working mums.

She continued that unless every captain of industry is to be male, the gender balance within the sector must improve.

Additionally, said Ms Schofield, bright women with technical qualifications have opted for other occupations due to the low job security associated with the industry.

"Do we really believe that women have nothing to contribute and men have all the answers? It will take time but something can be done to change the public attitude to engineering," she added.

Meanwhile, Tom Hadley, the Recruitment and Employment Confederation's (REC) director of policy and professional services said that apprenticeships help young people to develop skills that will give them a significant advantage in the job market and bring them into the world of work.