The safest leaving gift is one that works whether you know the person well or barely at all. That’s the test every pick on this list had to pass.
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Table of Contents
- Introduction
- How We Chose These Leaving Gifts
- Quick Comparison Table
- 1. Thank-You Gift Set
- 2. Kraft Cover Notebook, A5
- 3. Merino Wool Scarf
- 4. Canvas & Leather Tote Bag
- 5. Soy Candle in Reusable Ceramic Pot
- 6. Speckled Stoneware Trinket Dish
- 7. City Skyline Watercolour Print
- How to Choose the Right Leaving Gift
- Frequently Asked Questions
- The Bottom Line
Introduction
A colleague handing in their notice puts everyone else in an odd position. You might have sat next to them for years, or barely exchanged more than a hello at the coffee machine, and either way you’re now expected to find a gift that reads as thoughtful rather than obligatory.
Thoughtful doesn’t have to mean complicated. A UK guide to workplace leaving gifts from Huggg makes the same point directly: a leaving gift the person actually wants beats an expensive but generic one picked in a rush. We picked seven items from CraftsGifted’s own stock, across accessories, home, stationery and art, that fit that brief for a UK office leaving gift, whether it’s a group collection or something personal.
Here’s what made the shortlist, and how to match each one to your actual situation.
How We Chose These Leaving Gifts
Four things had to be true for a gift to make this list:
- Useful, not novelty. Nothing that ends up in a drawer after the first week.
- Works across relationships. Fine for a boss you rarely spoke to and a desk neighbour of five years alike.
- A fair spread of price points. Group collections and solo buyers have different budgets, so the list runs from under £10 to under £40.
- Currently in stock, priced accurately. Every item below is a product on sale at CraftsGifted today, at its current GBP price. Nothing here is a placeholder.
Quick Comparison Table
| Gift | Best For | Category | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thank-You Gift Set | An all-purpose pick for any leaving collection | Gifts by Occasion | £22.00 |
| Kraft Cover Notebook, A5 | A colleague starting a new chapter | Cards & Stationery | £9.00 |
| Merino Wool Scarf | Someone who commutes or works outdoors | Fashion Accessories | £32.00 |
| Canvas & Leather Tote Bag | A colleague carrying a laptop to a new office | Fashion Accessories | £38.00 |
| Soy Candle in Reusable Ceramic Pot | A low-cost, safe group gift | Home & Interiors | £16.00 |
| Speckled Stoneware Trinket Dish | A small desk or home keepsake | Home & Interiors | £14.00 |
| City Skyline Watercolour Print | A colleague relocating to a new city | Art | £19.00 |
1. Thank-You Gift Set: Best for Any Leaving Collection
This is the one to reach for when you’re not sure what else to get.
The Thank-You Gift Set is built for exactly this kind of moment: a gesture that needs to say “thanks for everything” without pretending to know someone’s personal taste. It sits in the Gifts by Occasion range for that reason.
What we like:
- Reads as a proper send-off gift, not an afterthought
- Suits a colleague you worked closely with or one you mostly knew by name
- Priced comfortably inside a typical office collection budget
What could be better:
- Less personal than a gift chosen around a specific hobby or interest
- Not the strongest choice if the group wants to spend more per head
Best for: office-wide collections where contributions vary and nobody wants to guess at personal taste. Not ideal if: you know the person well and want something that reflects them specifically.
2. Kraft Cover Notebook, A5: Best for a Fresh Start
A blank notebook is one of the few gifts that literally matches the occasion.
The Kraft Cover Notebook, A5 works well for a colleague who’s leaving to start something new, whether that’s a new job, further study, or a career change. It’s a small, practical object that doesn’t try too hard.
What we like:
- Directly fits the “new chapter” framing without being twee about it
- Low cost, which makes it easy to add on top of a group collection
- Useful for meeting notes, planning, or journalling
What could be better:
- Weaker fit if the colleague is retiring rather than moving to a new role
- Needs a personal note inside to land as more than a stationery item
Best for: someone whose next move is a new job, course, or business. Not ideal if: the colleague is leaving for reasons unrelated to a new opportunity, such as redundancy.
3. Merino Wool Scarf: Best for Someone Who’s Out and About
Pick this for a colleague who spends plenty of time outdoors, whatever the reason for leaving.
The Merino Wool Scarf is a practical, everyday accessory rather than a novelty item, which matters for a gift someone will actually wear after their leaving do is a distant memory.
What we like:
- Works for most ages and most personal styles
- A step up in perceived value for a smaller, close-knit collection
- Suits both a commuting colleague and one relocating somewhere colder
What could be better:
- A less obvious choice if your colleague works from home and rarely goes outside
- Sizing and colour preference are worth checking if you know them well enough to ask
Best for: a smaller group collection with a slightly bigger per-head budget. Not ideal if: you don’t know the recipient’s general style at all.
4. Canvas & Leather Tote Bag: Best for a New Commute
A tote bag earns its place on this list because it solves a specific, unglamorous problem: carrying stuff to a new job.
The Canvas & Leather Tote Bag is built for daily use, which is precisely what a colleague heading into a new office routine needs. It reads as practical rather than sentimental, which suits colleagues you weren’t especially close to.
What we like:
- Useful from day one at a new job
- Neutral enough to suit almost anyone on the team
- A strong option when several people want to pool a bigger budget
What could be better:
- The highest price point on this list, so best suited to smaller, dedicated collections
- Less meaningful if the colleague already has a bag they love
Best for: a colleague you know is heading straight into a new office job. Not ideal if: the group budget per person is under £10.
5. Soy Candle in Reusable Ceramic Pot: Best for a Low-Cost, Safe Group Gift
When a collection is small and the contributions are modest, this is the gift that still feels considered.
The Soy Candle in Reusable Ceramic Pot is a safe pick because it avoids the two things that sink most impersonal gifts: looking cheap, and ending up unused in a drawer. The ceramic pot has a second life once the candle’s finished.
What we like:
- Suits almost any recipient, regardless of how well you know them
- Sits at a price point that works for wider office collections
- The pot gets reused long after the candle’s gone, not just packaging
What could be better:
- Skip it if you know the recipient has a fragrance allergy or sensitivity
- Less exciting as a solo gift from one close colleague
Best for: wider team collections where the total per head is modest. Not ideal if: you’re not sure whether the recipient likes scented candles.
6. Speckled Stoneware Trinket Dish: Best for a Small, Thoughtful Keepsake
This is the pick for a colleague who’ll appreciate something small over something showy.
The Speckled Stoneware Trinket Dish works as a desk or home catch-all for keys, jewellery, or loose change, which means it gets used daily rather than displayed once and forgotten.
What we like:
- Compact and easy to post if the colleague isn’t picking anything up in person
- Doubles as a home item, not just a desk item
- A gentle, understated way to say goodbye without a big gesture
What could be better:
- Not the strongest choice if you want the gift to feel substantial
- Best matched to someone whose taste you have some sense of
Best for: a one-to-one gift from a colleague who worked closely with them. Not ideal if: you’re buying on behalf of a large group and want a bigger single gesture.
7. City Skyline Watercolour Print: Best for Someone Relocating
Save this one for a colleague who’s actually leaving the area, not just changing employer.
The City Skyline Watercolour Print works as a keepsake of the place they’re leaving behind, or a welcome to the place they’re heading to, depending on how you frame it. It’s the most personal item on this list.
What we like:
- More memorable than a generic print
- Works framed on a wall or packed flat for moving house
- A strong option when the leaving is tied to a house move, not just a job change
What could be better:
- Only makes sense if a move is actually involved
- Framing is an extra cost and step for whoever receives it
Best for: a colleague who’s relocating, not just switching jobs locally. Not ideal if: the departure has nothing to do with moving city.
How to Choose the Right Leaving Gift
Four questions narrow this down fast:
- Is this a group collection or a personal gift? Group collection → the Thank-You Gift Set or the Soy Candle, since both work without knowing the recipient’s exact taste. Personal gift from someone who knows them well → the Scarf, Trinket Dish, or Watercolour Print.
- What’s the budget per person? Under £15 → the Notebook or Trinket Dish. £15–£25 → the Candle or Watercolour Print. £25 and up → the Scarf or Tote Bag.
- Are they relocating or just changing employer? Relocating → the Watercolour Print or Tote Bag. Staying local, new job → the Notebook or Thank-You Gift Set.
- How well do you know their personal taste? Well → the Trinket Dish or Print, matched to what you already know they like. Not well at all → the Thank-You Gift Set, Candle, or Notebook, which don’t depend on guessing correctly.
Etiquette guidance from Emily Post on corporate gift-giving makes the same point in different words: keep it simple and moderately priced, and don’t assume you need to spend more to make it count.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much should I spend on a leaving gift for a colleague?
According to UK gift-collection guidance from GiftRound, typical contributions run from £0–£5 for colleagues you barely worked with, £5–£10 for colleagues in your team, and £10–£20 for a boss or someone you worked with closely for years.
What’s a good leaving gift when the whole team is chipping in?
Pick something that doesn’t depend on knowing the recipient’s exact taste, such as the Thank-You Gift Set or the Soy Candle in Reusable Ceramic Pot. Both sit at a price point that scales well once several people’s contributions are pooled.
Should I get a personal gift or contribute to a group collection?
Both are fine, and you don’t have to choose. Many people contribute a small amount to the group collection and add a smaller personal touch, like a card with a specific message, separately.
What if I don’t know my colleague that well?
Stick to the safest options on this list: the Thank-You Gift Set, the Notebook, or the Candle. All three work without any assumptions about personal style, colour preference, or hobbies.
Is a card enough on its own?
A card matters more than most people think, especially the message inside it rather than the card itself. Pairing a specific, personal note with even a small gift tends to land better than an expensive gift with no message at all.
What are good leaving gifts for a boss or manager?
The same principles apply, just with a higher typical contribution. The Merino Wool Scarf or Canvas & Leather Tote Bag both read as more substantial without becoming showy.
How do I organise a leaving collection at work?
Suggest a modest amount rather than a fixed one, keep individual contributions private, and set a clear deadline before the person’s last day so there’s time to actually buy and wrap the gift.
What if my colleague is moving to a different city, not just a different company?
The City Skyline Watercolour Print is built for exactly this situation, since it works as a keepsake either of the place they’re leaving or the place they’re heading to.
Are gift cards a good leaving gift?
They can work, but they carry less of the “we thought about this” signal that makes a leaving gift land well. A modest physical gift plus a personal note usually reads as more considered.
What should I avoid buying as a leaving gift?
Avoid anything that assumes a specific hobby you’re not sure they actually have, and avoid gifts that only make sense while they’re still at the company, like items branded with the employer’s logo.
When should I give the leaving gift, before or on their last day?
Their actual last day works best for most gifts, especially group collections, since it gives everyone time to contribute and lets the gift double as part of the send-off.
Can I order a leaving gift from CraftsGifted with enough time before someone’s last day?
Order as early in the week as you can once a leaving date is confirmed, since a physical gift needs time to arrive before it’s needed. Contact hello@craftsgifted.com if you have a tight deadline and want to check timing before ordering.
The Bottom Line
Most leaving gifts fail for the same reason: they try too hard to be memorable and end up generic instead. The seven picks here work because each one solves a specific situation, whether that’s a wide office collection with no clear budget, a close colleague you know well, or someone who’s actually packing up and moving city.
If you’re buying on behalf of a group and don’t know the recipient well, start with the Thank-You Gift Set or the Soy Candle in Reusable Ceramic Pot. If you know them personally and want something that reflects that, the Scarf, Trinket Dish, or Watercolour Print will say more than a generic gift ever could. See How CraftsGifted’s Gifts by Occasion Range Covers Other Send-Offs, from new babies to retirements.
Related Articles
- 7 Thank-You Gift Ideas for Every Occasion (2026): broader thank-you picks if the gift is more about gratitude than a career change.
- How to Write a Thank-You Card Message People Remember: pairs well with any gift on this list.
- 6 New Job Gift Ideas to Say Congratulations (2026): for when you already know exactly where they’re heading next.
About This Research
CraftsGifted Editorial Team curates and writes CraftsGifted’s gift guides directly from the shop’s own live product catalogue rather than generic “best of” lists compiled without checking stock or pricing.
This guide is based on a direct review of CraftsGifted’s current in-stock range across its Gifts by Occasion, Cards & Stationery, Fashion Accessories, Home & Interiors and Art categories, cross-checked against published UK workplace gift-giving guidance from Emily Post and GiftRound for contribution norms and etiquette.
Content reviewed and updated: 18 September 2026
Connect With Us
Questions about this guide, or about ordering in time for a colleague’s last day? Email hello@craftsgifted.com.
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