WOMEN pay a huge price to keep up with men in the business world, according to new research.

The study of UK company directors, carried out by Natwest Black Card, reveals the typical business leader as a married man, aged between 46 and 65 and educated to degree level.

Across the board male business leaders outnumber women by ten to one, but in the younger age group (26 to 36) there are three times as many women business leaders (12 per cent) as men (4 per cent).

However, only 52 per cent of female directors are married, compared with 82 per cent of the men. There are also three times as many female singletons and twice as many female divorcees.

which reveals the 'make-up' of successful company directors.

(33 per cent as opposed to 8 per cent)

(12 per cent compared with 5 per cent)