Staff turnover is costly for employers, and getting off to the right start with empoyees can increase retention and help build a good relationship.
Welcome packs help inject your company culture into the onboarding experience and get new employees up and running faster. Also known as onboarding packs (or even welcome kits), these packs are full of essential items and fun gifts. If you’re thoughtful about it, they instantly make your new starter feel valued, part of the team, and comfortable in their new environment.
They also act as a good ice breaker with fellow colleagues and gives the new employee something to focus on whilst waiting for any intitial meetings.
Our Favourite Pack Examples
Get inspired for your new hire with our examples below, and remember we can create a bespoke pack if you have something else in mind – just contact us.
Ready-made branded welcome packs
If you are struggling for time and don’t want to have to stock items and assemble them yourself, what about a ready made branded gift pack? There are various sizes of packages, from letterbox sizes (ideal for those working remotely) to larger packs to cater for a variety of useful gifts.
The example below includes a branded mole notebook, a branded vacuum powder-coated drinks bottle and matching branded soft feel ballpoint pen, all designed to colour match and be neatly packaged in a personalised postage box. Three essential items to ease in your new starter into their new work life.
These branded packs can also be sent to individual addresses on your behalf for those onboarding staff remotely. For more information on our branded gift packs – get in touch with our team and we can suggest the perfect pack for you!
Eco-Friendly packs
If you are wanting to push your green credentials as a company, why not offer a gift pack filled with more sustainable promotional items? This ‘Go Green’ Eco friendly set includes a ceramic, reusable travel mug, cork coaster, bamboo phone stand, recycled notebook and pen.
Remote working packs
Onboarding a new employee remotely and making sure they buy in to your company culture can be challenging. One way to make a genuine connection with your new starter and provide a great first impression is with a new employee box.
By providing them with useful essentials to make working from home more comfortable, you will go a long way to helping them have a successful start! Gadgets such as cable adaptors, wireless chargers, headphones/speakers and webcam covers are all good bets.
See below an example gift pack which includes a selection of eco-friendly essential work from home branded gadgets: a branded power bank, wireless charger, cable and USB flash drive.
Budget packs
If you still want to welcome your new starter with a pack but don’t have a massive budget, there are still plenty of options for you! Even a couple of gifts with your brand on will not only help new employees express their pride in their new role, but boost your brand in the process!
Branded keyrings, hand sanitisers, stationery, coasters, sweets, stickers and badges, and lanyards can all be sourced at budget friendly prices and included into a pack.
Seasonal packs
Are you welcoming staff at a particular time of year and want to offer them promotional gifts that suit the season? We can provide you with summer packs which include sun glasses, water bottle, bottle opener keyring and a drawstring bag.
Or winter packs which contain an ice scraper, travel mug, torch and smart gloves.
If you are looking for a Christmas or anniversary hamper, wicker baskets filled with tasty treats are available with a branded sleeve.
View all our branded hampers here.
If you would like some more ideas, our expert team would love the opportunity to chat with you. Contact us now.
You may also be interested in our previous blog: Onboarding a New Employee
You can view a range of packs to buy here – PS. Here at Steel City, we can also create a bespoke pack tailored to your needs.
Why invest in a welcome pack?
A welcome kit has many benefits:
- It can be a great tool to reflect your company culture
- They will energise and improve your onboarding experience
- New employees will feel instantly appreciated and part of the group
- Inspire and create excitement and energy to get started in their new role
- A good icebreaker with fellow colleagues
- Useful information can be included to help new starters quickly get up to speed
When should you give out the welcome pack?
There are many points at which you can introduce a gift pack for a new staff member:
- Send before their first day to show them that you are excited about them starting or surprise them with a gift pack on their first day at their desk.
- You could even wait a few weeks and after getting to know them, so as to gather items together which reflects their personality and interests.
Whenever you decide to offer your pack, for it to be successful, it requires some thought as to what are the essentials that should be included as well as what fun gifts will embody your company culture.
What should be included in a new employee pack?
1. Important information
A staff pack can be a great tool to share with your new starter all the essential information about your company so they don’t need to ask. You could include:
- Company mission and vision/employee handbook
- HR forms e.g. employee contract, benefits, company policies
- Agenda for their first day and month – what to expect
- Office map with team names/parking instructions
- Employee directory with contact details
- Log in details
- Local guide to cafes, restaurants, parks, gyms etc.
2. Practical items
Useful items that will help your new employee on a day-to-day basis could include:
- Any IT hardware e.g. laptop/tablet, mouse, USB Stick
- Any software manuals or computer set up guides
- ID badge and lanyard
- Keys or keyfobs
- Notebooks, pens and pencils
- Desk pads, sticky notes, desk tidies
- Mousepads, coasters, mugs
- Protective items such as face coverings and hand sanitiser
3. Branded items
To make a great first impression, include customised items in your pack. They will not only make them feel appreciated, but also reinforce your brand culture and the value it places in employees! You could offer:
- A personalised welcome letter or card
- Business cards
- Nameplate
- Personalised branded gifts
4. Personalised branded gifts
Go the extra mile by including customised branded gifts with your new starters name in your pack.
Personalised gifts are also a popular choice due to reducing the spread of germs in an office and to make the receiver feel protected.
Some examples of personalised gifts to include are:
- Personalised drinks bottles
- Personalised travel mugs
- Personalised mugs
- T-shirt, hoodie or sweatshirt branded with the company logo and their name
- Personalised pens
- Personalised notebooks
FAQs
What should be included in a welcome pack?
The new staff kit should contain both essential and feel-good items for your new member of staff. While this will differ per company, most packs should contain the employee handbook, welcome letter, branded company swag, and a sweet treat. Here are our favourite essentials:
- Employee handbook
- Welcome letter
- Branded coffee mug
- Branded t-shirt
- Branded hoodie
- Sweet treats (like cookies)
- Branded power bank
- Branded headphones
- Branded office suppliers
Having this many branded items will help your new employee feel they’re part of the team.
Anecdotal Example
As an example, a welcome pack for a younger or more casual team would be best including casual clothing like a t-shirt, as well as fun items like stickers and stress balls. Whereas a more formal pack for a corporate employee should include a branded coffee mug, luxury branded pen, branded notebook, and a personal message on high quality paper.
Can you brand a kit with your company logo?
Yes, all of our packs can be branded with your company logo and custom messaging, to ensure you create something that’s perfect for your staff. Contact the Steel City team today to discuss your options.
What’s the best way to welcome a new employee to the office?
The best way to welcome a new employee on their first day is to make them feel comfortable, which involves giving them a relaxed tour of the office, letting them meet people individually in a more casual setting (instead of a formal introduction – which can come later), helping to setup their workspace, giving them a welcome gift, taking them out to lunch, and giving them a small task for their first day.
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