Dell female managers mentor male colleagues to increase diversity

Senior male managers at computer firm Dell have been mentored by their female colleagues in a bid to encourage diversity at the top of the business.

The female middle managers have been acting as mentors for the most senior men in the company, to help them understand female perceptions of the workplace and the daily challenges women face, including childcare arrangements.

Ingrid Devin, diversity manager at Dell for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, told the Observer: "The feedback from the men was great. They realised that they have a lot to learn about the challenges that women face in the workplace, especially learning how to do the 'right thing'."

The mentoring scheme at Dell is part of a wider project designed to get more women into top positions in the IT sector.

This week the Treasury select committee's Women in the City inquiry will begin to hear evidence.