In what is being seen as a much positive development for UK in the current financially difficult times, retail giant Marks and Spencer is all set to offer annual bonuses to its employees for the first time in three years since the recession hurt began. A result of the fact that the company's profits and earnings have now started to pick up, the bonuses will be offered in May of the coming year.

The fact that a bonus is on cards will be announced by Chairman and Chief Executive Sir Stuart Rose on Wednesday when the company's half-yearly results will be shared. Speculations are that the company has set aside a bonus of nearly ?50 Million for all 78,000 of the firm's full and part time permanent employees.

"M&S has certainly made a provision for the bonus", said retail analyst Nick Bubb at broker Pali International. "Rose wants to avoid a repeat of the two megadays of big discounts last November and December, but it is still early days and he will retain the right to do something if necessary".

Although the exact figures of the bonus will not be disclosed anytime soon, the fact that the giant retail store chain owner is offering bonuses, after times ridden with strict cost cutting and losses, is being seen as an optimistic sign by analysts; another possible sign that UK might soon be saying goodbye to recession.