The world’s second biggest mining company pledges that half of its workforce will be female by 2025

It's an industry that’s been dominated by men for thousands of years.

But this is set to change as the world’s second biggest mining company wants women to make up half of its workforce by 2025.

BHP Billiton, which mines petroleum, copper, iron ore and coal, said women had been disadvantaged for too long in a male-dominated environment.

It has already brought more women into its workforce at a junior level, with 49pc of its graduate trainees now women.

But the new policy is a steep climb from the 17pc of women already in the business, and suggests it would have 50pc of women at board at executive level, as well as workers in its mines across Australia and South America.

Andrew Mackenzie, chief executive, said while progress had been made, without new initiatives it would take 30 years just to get 30pc female representation.