Leaving Gift Ideas for a Colleague — 20 Options for Every Budget (UK)

A leaving gift should feel like a proper send-off

The classic British leaving gift — a Marks & Spencer voucher in an envelope — is reliable but rarely remembered. A gift that clearly reflects who the person is, or where they're going, is remembered for years. Here are 20 ideas that do that, at every budget.

Experience gifts — always the right category

• Dinner at a restaurant they've mentioned — or a restaurant voucher if you don't know their preference. Experiences consistently outperform objects in how long they're remembered.
• A cooking class or workshop — Waitrose cookery school, a local independent. Brilliant for someone who has mentioned an interest in learning something.
• A spa day or massage voucher — appropriate for almost any colleague, regardless of gender. Everyone appreciates being told to rest.
• Theatre tickets or a show — works brilliantly if you know their taste in entertainment.

For someone starting a new job

• A quality leather notebook and pen — for the new desk. Practical, lasts years, used every day.
• A commuter bag or laptop bag — if their new commute is longer or different, a quality bag is genuinely useful. Aer, Bellroy or Filson at the higher end; decent options from M&S or John Lewis at mid-range.
• A Pret or coffee subscription — for the first month of commuting before they've found their preferred coffee spot.

For someone retiring

• A personalised photo book — Photobox, Snapfish or Artifact Uprising. A curated collection of team photos and memories that tells the story of their time at the organisation. One of the most kept retirement gifts.
• A garden centre gift card — for the retiree who has mentioned gardening. National Garden Gift Vouchers work at most UK garden centres.
• A quality whisky, wine or gin — with a personalised label if the budget allows. Not on the High Street or Batch Brewing do this well.
• National Trust or English Heritage membership — a year of weekends well spent.

For someone moving abroad or relocating

• A Wise card — or a contribution toward one. For anyone moving abroad, a multi-currency card is the single most practically useful gift in the first year.
• A care package of British things they'll miss — Marmite, Cadbury's, proper tea, Heinz beans. Sounds simple. Appreciated enormously.
• A quality travel adapter — the kind that works everywhere and doesn't break. Never bought in advance. Always needed.

Budget options (under £20)

• A hardback book you think they'd genuinely read — only if you know their taste.
• A quality candle — Diptyque, Jo Malone, or a good independent.
• A selection of nice teas or coffees — Fortnum's or a specialty roaster.

The pool approach

The options above are best when bought from a pooled collection — that way the gift is at a level that genuinely reflects the group's appreciation rather than one person's budget. An online leaving card from Thankeeu includes an optional contribution pool in GBP — everyone signs and chips in from the same link. Create one here.