An expert has suggested that firms could consider working with IT outsourcing providers in a bid to offer more home-working opportunities for their workers.

Jerri Barrett, vice president of marketing for the Anita Borg Institute for Women and Technology, has highlighted the fact that firms are making more effort to retain their female workforce.

Ms Barrett has said that some of the steps taken to retain the workforce include improved flexible working provisions, boosting engagement with third-party organisations that support these staff members and making mentoring more systemic.

“Companies are paying more and more attention to their corporate cultures and are making significant efforts on retaining their female employees, especially at the mid-level,” she said.

Ms Barrett's comments come on the heel of reports that there are difficulties in ensuring the skills pipelines contains enough women, with too few progressing to mid-level positions.

Outsourcing demand will remain positive for the last half of 2010, reports recent research carried out for Computer Weekly.

In order to get the most out of working from home, workers have been advised to ensure that they plan their day, plan their breaks, set themselves deadlines, develop a reward strategy and ensure that the work they are doing is something they enjoy.