Taking time out to have a baby is costing working women their position on the career ladder.

Tanya Hine, president of the British Association of Women Entrepreneurs, called it an “ongoing” difficulty: “It always has been a problem that once you have children you’re normally back at the bottom of the ladder and have to work yourself back up again,” she said.

The Trades Union Congress recently released research that suggested women are penalised in the workplace for choosing to start a family. The TUC figures found that the gender pay gap sharply increases when women reach their 30s.

Just last week, HR Zone reported on findings by online recruiters Monster, which found that just 44% of companies do enough to encourage new mums back into the workplace.

ClickAJob chief executive Yngve Traberg said: “To start mothers back at the bottom ignores a real asset in commitment, hardly a key motivator for continuing achievement.”