Allowing more HR directors to be appointed as non-executive directors will help raise the number of women on Britain’s boards, according to executive search Odgers-Berndtson.

Lord Davies’ report called for firms to adopt voluntary targets to achieve a minimum 25% female representation on boards by 2015, while head-hunting firms have been asked to draw up a voluntary code of practice addressing gender diversity in relation to board-level appointments to FTSE 350 companies.

A spokesperson for Odgers-Berndtson said: “Many communities or specialist areas are often closed off in getting to board level. Many companies don’t see HR as a pool they want to fish in to find candidates. Our view is there are many HR directors who could make a very valuable contribution as non-executives on issues like pay, succession and talent management.

“Where companies are willing to fish in that pool it will be a good source of candidates and would help improve the number of women because it happens to be a profession that women in flourish in.

“There are a number of professions that have historically been attractive for women — HR, communications and law. Typically companies haven’t looked at those professions as their first-choice pool for non-executive candidates. Our view is the HR profession can offer some very strong candidates and as a useful side-effect help boost the number of women on boards.”