There are 22 companies in Kent where women earn more than men, according to data analysed by KentOnline.

The figure represents less than 9% of the 253 companies across the county who have reported what they pay men and women.

It comes as leading business figures in Kent call for more action on addressing the gender pay gap.

Scroll down for video

Only establishments with more than 250 employees were included.

The firms where the mean average hourly wage of women is higher than men are listed below.

Swanstaff Recruitment

Crossways Business Park, Galleon Boulevard, Dartford

Established in 1997, Swanstaff is now one of the fastest growing recruitment companies in the UK.

Both permanent and temporary recruitment services are offered, including within the healthcare, logistics, pharmaceutical and commercial sectors.

With 150 staff across 17 locations and more than 900 clients, women earn a substantial 26.3% more than men.

Tonbridge And Malling Leisure Trust

Martin Square, Larkfield, Aylesford

Tonbridge and Malling Leisure Trust is a non-profit organisation which operates six facilities, including Larkfield Leisure Centre and Poult Wood Golf Course.

Women earn 22.9% more than men at the trust.

WATCH: Firms given deadline to release their gender pay gap figures

Ducas
Little Mount Sion, Tunbridge Wells

Ducas provides thousands of temporary workers with all the benefits offered to a standard employee, including holiday pay, sick pay and maternity/paternity leave.

Women who work for this company also earn 21.7% more than men.

Your Leisure Kent

Northdown Park Road, Margate

Your Leisure Kent is responsible for two Margate theatres, private venues, beach chalets and leisure centres.

In the company's public pay gap report, women earning 16.5% more than men can be explained by the number of female fitness class instructors and swim teachers dominating the upper quartiles, despite the managing director of the company being a man.

Active Life

Thanet Way, Whitstable

Active Life is a group of sport and leisure facilities on the Kent coast, where women get paid 14.3% more than men.

The registered charity operates Kingsmead Leisure Centre, Herons Leisure Centre, The Bay Sports Arena, Whitstable Swimming Pool and Whitstable Sports Centre.

Sencio Community Leisure

London Road, Sevenoaks

This organisation looks after three leisure centres in Edenbridge, Swanley and Sevenoaks, and a golf course in Orpington.

Women on the payroll here earn 10.3% more than men.

Integrated Care 24

Orbital Park, Ashford

Integrated Care 24 provides health and care services to more than six million patients.

At the Ashford care co-ordination centre, staff take NHS 111 calls for contracted areas, with female employees earning 10.2% more than men.

There are also administrators and call advisors working closely with surgeries and other healthcare providers to help patients.

Gravesham Community Leisure

Thong Lane, Gravesend

Gravesham Community Leisure is another leisure centre, with a kids' zone, health suite and swimming pools.

The company's most recent gender pay gap report reveals women earn 9.9% more than men.

This is explained by 85% of employees working part time and 70% of these being women.

The report suggests an underlying cause is the specific nature of the roles, which include cleaning, play scheme leaders and membership advisors.

Thanet District Council

Cecil Street, Margate

Thanet District Council is the local government body responsible for a large area, which includes Margate, Broadstairs and Ramsgate.

Women who work here earn 8.7% more than men.

Childrensalon

High Street, Tunbridge Wells

The world's largest online store for luxury kidswear, Childrensalon has recently bought three additional warehouses beside the head office and opened the Childrensalon Outlet store in the town.

With a team of 370, women employees earn 5.4% more than men.

In Childrensalon's gender pay gap report, it states a key factor being a strong management team made of 69-73% women in the top pay quartiles.

Pilgrims Hospices

London Road, Canterbury

Four of the seven-strong leadership team at Pilgrims Hospices are women, headed by Cate Russell, who has 20 years experience in the health and pharmaceutical industry.

So it is not too surprising that women are getting paid 4.8% more than men here.

Scope

Knightrider Street, Maidstone

Scope supplies temporary workers to businesses across Britain, including everything from the bakery industry to administration.

The company has more than 1,000 employees stationed at 10 locations across the UK.

Despite both its managers being men, women earn 4.5% more overall.

MTS Cleansing Services

Medway City Estate, Rochester

MTS Cleansing Services is a waste management company working within the commercial, industrial and household sectors.

Able to clean everything from sewers and drains to CCTV systems, the company also pays women 3.7% more than men.

Kent Fire & Rescue Service

Straw Mill Hill, Tovil, Maidstone

With a female chief executive at the forefront, this is one of the few well-established public bodies where women are earning more than men.

Ann Millington leads a 2000-strong workforce, with firefighters based in 55 locations across the county and women earn 2.4% more than men.

Ridge Crest Cleaning

Rochester Rd, Aylesford

Ridge Crest has cleaning contracts with shopping centres, schools, offices and distribution centres.

Alongside an Aylesford base, the business also operates in London, the Midlands and other parts of the South East.

Women earn 2.4% more than men here.

The Kent Autistic Trust

High Street, Brompton, Gillingham

The Kent Autistic Trust is a charity which has been helping people with the condition since 1989.

Family support, respite and outreach is offered to those with special needs at a number of sites across Kent.

Unlike many companies, all departments of the trust are headed by women, who earn 2.2% more than their male counterparts overall.

Staff Management

Suffolk Way, Sevenoaks

Staff Management is a home care agency based in Sevenoaks, where women get paid ever so slightly more than men, 0.5% to be exact.

Centre Circle Event Management

Hermitage Road, Higham, Rochester

This Rochester-based business provides security guards and stewarding for events.

Staff work across a wide range of sectors including concerts, festivals and sport.

Despite this being a typically male-dominated sector, women just about earn more than men, by 0.4%.

Tapi Carpets & Floors

Spur Road, Orpington

Tapi Carpets sells a variety of floorings including vinyl, carpet and artificial grass.

The head office is based in Orpington, with more than 120 stores around the country.

There is almost no difference in gender pay at Tapi, but women are taking the slight lead by 0.3%.

Cygnet Health Care

London Road, Wrotham Heath, Sevenoaks

There are three separate companies which come under mental health care provider, Cygnet Health Care, where women earn more than men.

All have a registered address in Sevenoaks.

Women employees at Cygnet Care Services earn 0.3% more than men, those at Isand, 3.2% and Cygnet Learning Disabilities, 10.8%.

Read more: All the latest business news

Read more: All the latest Kent news