A large proportion of middle managers cannot concentrate on their personal development due to a lack of time, new research has revealed.

A study published on 17 April by the Ashridge Business School showed that even though 73% of these professionals work for a company that claims to support such learning, just 53% are given enough time to do this.

The survey - which involved questioning 569 middle managers across the country - also revealed that 25% of bosses believe professional development is perceived as a luxury by their superiors.

Hamish Scott, programme director at the Ashridge Business School, said such figures point to a "real business issue" that needs to be addressed sooner rather than later as middle managers are an "important part of any organisation".

"Overlooking this critical function is short-sighted," he added.

This comes after research by Ernst & Young's Fraud, Investigations and Disputes Services team released last week showed that 72% of middle managers are still unaware of the Bribery Act.