The line of weary air hostesses trudging out of Terminal Five in search of high-flying careers in the City is soon set to lengthen like a Heathrow delay.

Yes, you heard it here first – hosties are being corralled into staffing law firm receptions around the City. Sick of the surly grads and ageing Essex types who have customarily manned the phones in bored fashion, sources say firms are increasingly looking to those doyennes of customer service – the waitresses of the sky – to do the job.