Writing in M&S’ annual report, Archie Norman said the pandemic had revolutionised the way the retailer works with remote working being “only a small part” of that.

He said M&S staff were now increasingly “multitasking in stores”, decisions were being made more quickly and the retailer had an “action orientation irrespective of hierarchy”.

Norman said M&S is “determined to make our ways of working permanent and accelerate the aspects of our transformation necessary” to thrive in the new consumer landscape.