What Should You Buy for a Colleague Who Is Leaving?
Your colleague is leaving, everyone wants to give them something special… and then the questions begin.
What is a good farewell gift for a colleague?
How much should I contribute?
How much should we spend as a team?
Should we buy something useful or something personal?
If you’re asking these questions, you’re definitely not alone.
At Krevana, we believe choosing a leaving gift becomes much easier when you stop asking “What should I buy?” and start asking:
“What would this person genuinely appreciate and remember?”
How much should you spend on a leaving gift?
There isn’t one correct amount.
Instead, think about your relationship with the person and whether you're buying individually or as a group.
If you’re contributing to a workplace collection, start with an amount that feels comfortable for each person. Once you know the total budget, choose the gift — rather than deciding on an expensive gift first and then expecting everyone to contribute.
For example, if 10 colleagues are comfortable contributing £5 each, you have a £50 budget.
If 15 people contribute £5, you have £75.
And remember: a meaningful leaving gift doesn't have to be expensive.
A small personalised keepsake with the right words can mean far more than an expensive generic present.
What makes a good leaving present?
Think about the person first.
How long have they worked with you?
Are they a close colleague, your boss or your work bestie?
Are they changing jobs, moving away or retiring?
What memories do you share?
Would they appreciate something funny, practical or sentimental?
For someone you know well, a personal farewell gift can carry much more meaning because you can include their name, a special message, photographs or memories from the team.
For example, our personalised leaving card can include photographs and space for colleagues to write their own messages and best wishes.
Personalised Leather Leaving Card
Instead of receiving something they'll use once, they leave with a collection of memories from the people they've worked beside.
What if you have a smaller budget?
Don't feel pressured to spend more simply because someone is leaving.
A personalised pen, bookmark, small engraved keepsake or another thoughtful item can still say:
“Thank you. We appreciated having you here.”
The personalisation is often what turns a relatively simple object into their gift.
What if the whole team is buying together?
A group collection gives you the opportunity to create something more substantial.
This is where photo gifts, personalised presentation pieces or gifts containing messages from multiple colleagues work particularly well.
A memory book, framed message collage or shared photo gift can be a simple way to show your appreciation and create a lasting impression.
Instead of one person's message, the gift becomes something from the whole team.
Group Leaving Gift / Photo & Message Gift]
What about a colleague who is retiring?
Retirement deserves slightly different thinking.
You're not simply saying goodbye to someone changing jobs. You may be celebrating 10, 20, 30 or even 40 years of their working life.
Consider something that brings together their name, career, colleagues, photographs and personal messages.
Because when someone's working chapter comes to an end, the best gift can be something that helps them remember the people who were part of it.
Still don't know what to choose?
Start with three simple things:
The person. The memory. The budget.
Decide what you want the gift to say, choose an amount you're comfortable spending, and then look for something that can make that message personal.
You don't need the most expensive leaving gift.
You need the right gift for the right person.
At Krevana, we're here to help you find a thoughtful farewell gift that fits the person, the occasion and your budget — while creating something they can keep as a lasting reminder of the people and memories they're leaving behind.
Krevana — we don't just gift, we engrave the story.
