Marks is getting its spark back as it prepares to return to the FTSE 100 for the first time in four years

Marks & Spencer will return to the FTSE 100 next month for the first time in four years.

The high street star’s long-awaited rise back to the top flight came after index compiler FTSE Russell’s recent quarterly reshuffle.

The decision was based on company values ​​as of the close of business yesterday, with the changes expected to take effect on September 18th.

M&S chief executive Stuart Machin told The Mail on Sunday last week that “it will be just another day” when the high street retailer returns to the FTSE 100.

While acknowledging that the company still has “work to do”, he has taken an impressive turn at M&S.

Recovery: M&S’s long-awaited move back to the top flight came after index builder FTSE Russell’s recent quarterly reshuffle

Shares are up 80 per cent so far this year and the company is valued at £4.38 billion.

Emma-Lou Montgomery, associate director of personal investing at Fidelity International, said: “The good old Marks seem to be coming back to life.”

“It has proven its appeal to the new target market of the ‘modern mainstream consumer’ as its notoriously dowdy fashion brand has been revamped and once again become a go-to place for women looking for better value, higher quality clothing.

“The only potential pain point is the joint venture with the Ocado Group, which itself narrowly avoided demotion from the FTSE 100 earlier in the year.”

The high street star’s revival is thanks to a world-class style squad who have overhauled every aspect of clothes on the closet rails for the past three years.