First impressions count, and a thoughtful welcome pack can help new employees feel comfortable, included, and part of the team from day one.
More than just a box of branded products, a welcome pack supports the wider onboarding experience by reinforcing your company culture and giving new starters practical items they’ll use straight away. It can also act as a natural icebreaker with colleagues and provide a reassuring sense of belonging during those important first few days.
This guide focuses on employee welcome pack ideas and inspiration. If you’re looking for advice on the wider onboarding journey, from pre-start communication through to the first few months, read our guide to Onboarding a New Employee.
Watch: Why Welcome Packs Matter
We covered this topic in our Branded Products Minute video above, where we explain why welcome packs have surged in popularity and how they help new starters feel valued from day one.
Employee Welcome Pack Ideas
Below are some popular welcome packs we regularly create for businesses. This guide is designed to inspire ideas rather than showcase fixed products, and most packs can be tailored to suit your brand, audience, and budget.
Ready-made Welcome Packs
If you’re short on time or need a consistent solution across multiple new starters, ready-made welcome packs are an excellent option. These packs are available in various sizes, from letterbox-friendly packs for remote starters to larger presentation boxes for in-office teams. A typical ready-made pack might include:
- A branded notebook
- A branded drinks bottle or travel mug
- A matching branded pen
The example above includes a branded mood® soft feel notebook, a branded vacuum powder-coated drinks bottle and matching branded ballpoint pen, all designed to colour-match and be neatly packaged in a fully personalised postage box made from sustainable card. Together, these three practical items help new employees settle into their new role while creating a consistent, professional first impression. These branded packs can also be sent to individual addresses on your behalf of 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! Browse our onboarding welcome packs
Technology-focused / Remote Working Welcome Packs
Technology-focused welcome packs are especially useful for remote, hybrid, or desk-based roles where setup matters from day one. They’re particularly popular for organisations recruiting hybrid and remote employees at scale. Onboarding remote employees can be challenging, particularly when it comes to building connection and culture. A thoughtfully put-together welcome pack helps bridge that gap by creating a positive first impression and giving new starters practical tools to use straight away. These packs often include useful work-from-home essentials such as cable adaptors, wireless chargers, headphones/speakers and webcam covers. Including practical tech accessories helps new starters feel productive quickly and shows you’ve considered how they’ll work, not just where. The example packs above include a selection of essential branded tech items, such as power banks, wireless chargers, cables, and USB flash drives.
Sustainable Welcome Packs
Many organisations now choose products with sustainability in mind. And if sustainability is part of your brand values, an eco-friendly welcome pack with practical items made from recycled, renewable, or reusable materials is a great way to communicate this from day one. Popular choices include reusable travel mugs, recycled notebooks and pens, bamboo phone stands, and cork coasters. They help reinforce your environmental credentials while still providing everyday value.
Wellbeing Welcome Packs
Adding a wellbeing or treats element to a welcome pack is a simple way to make the experience feel more personal and thoughtful.
This could be as small as a selection of snacks, tea or coffee, a personal care bundle like the wellbeing essential kit above, or something focused on wellbeing, such as a reusable water bottle, stress ball, or notebook for personal use. These items help break the ice, add warmth to the first day, and show new starters they’re valued as people, not just employees.
Wellbeing-focused additions work particularly well for remote starters, where small comforts can help recreate a sense of welcome from afar.
Budget-Friendly Welcome Packs
A great welcome pack doesn’t need to come with a big price tag. Even a small selection of well-chosen branded items can make a strong impression. Budget-friendly packs often include items like notebooks and pens, keyrings or lanyards, simple desk accessories, stickers or badges, and the occasional sweet treat. The focus is on usefulness and relevance rather than volume.
Seasonal Welcome Packs
Seasonal welcome packs are a thoughtful way to tailor the onboarding experience to the time of year. Summer welcome packs often include items such as sunglasses, water bottles, and drawstring bags, while winter packs might feature travel mugs, ice scrapers, gloves, or small torches. These seasonal touches help make the pack feel timely and considered. For Christmas or anniversaries, branded hampers with festive treats are a popular option.
Presentation Matters
The products inside a welcome pack are important, but so is how they’re presented.
A premium gift box, tissue paper, welcome card or handwritten message can transform a collection of everyday products into something much more memorable.
Presentation reinforces your brand, demonstrates attention to detail and helps create a stronger emotional connection with your new employee.
Why Invest in a Welcome Pack?
Recruiting great people takes time, effort and investment. A well-planned welcome pack helps ensure that investment gets off to the best possible start.
A thoughtful welcome pack can:
- Create a positive first impression.
- Reinforce your company culture and values.
- Help new employees feel welcomed and included.
- Provide practical items they’ll use every day.
- Build excitement before or on their first day.
Research from the CIPD consistently highlights the importance of effective onboarding in improving employee engagement, confidence and retention. While a welcome pack isn’t a substitute for a structured onboarding programme, it can play an important role in helping new starters feel part of the team.
What Should an Employee Welcome Pack Include?
Every organisation is different, but most successful welcome packs combine practical information with useful branded products.
1. Essential Information
Your welcome pack can help new starters find their feet quickly by including essential information such as:
- A personal welcome letter from the team
- Specific information about their role, including their job description and material about the team they will join
- An employee handbook
- HR forms e.g. employee contract, benefits, company policies
- Company values
- Agenda for their first day and month – what to expect
- Employee directory with contact details
- Health and safety details
- Office map with team names/parking instructions
- Log in details
- Local guide to cafes, restaurants, parks, gyms etc.
- The latest annual report or staff newsletter
2. Practical Work Essentials
Help employees settle in quickly with useful everyday items such as: notebooks and pens, mugs or drinks bottles, ID badges and lanyards, desk accessories, and relevant IT accessories where appropriate.
3. Branded Merchandise
Branded gifts reinforce company identity and help create consistency across the organisation. You might include branded stationery, business cards, branded clothing, or more unique items like a branded game or stress toy for example, that reflect your brand style and culture.
4. Personal Touches
Small gestures often leave the biggest impression. Personalised gifts featuring the recipient’s name are a popular choice, not just because they show extra thought and effort, but also because they help items feel unique to that individual within the office or workspace.
Common personalised additions include:
- 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
These small details can make a welcome pack feel more considered and genuinely personal.
When Should You Give Out the Welcome Pack?
Frequently Asked Questions
What should be included in a welcome pack?
Most welcome packs include a combination of practical work essentials, company information and branded merchandise. Popular items include notebooks, pens, drinkware, clothing, ID holders, technology accessories and a personal welcome message.
Can welcome packs be branded with our logo?
Yes, all of our welcome 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?
Alongside a welcome pack, the best onboarding experience includes a relaxed introduction to the team, help setting up their workspace, clear expectations, and time to settle in.
Ready to Create Your Employee Welcome Pack?
From ready-made welcome packs to fully bespoke employee onboarding kits, we’ll help you create a solution that fits your brand, budget and company culture.
Browse our Onboarding & Welcome Packs, or get in touch with our team to discuss your ideas.
