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Onboarding Welcome Packs
Bespoke branded onboarding welcome packs for employees and clients.
Browse the examples below for inspiration, or contact us to create a custom onboarding pack tailored to your brand, needs, and budget.
Key Information
Why Choose Us
We know that brands are looking to boost their company culture at every opportunity, and a great welcome pack is the perfect way to do that. We help HR and People teams put together branded onboarding packs that really land well – picking items that are high quality and useful for the recipient in their day-to-day. We handle the consistency of the branding and packing so you don’t have to worry about last-minute issues, ensuring everything arrives ready to give that new starter a real boost on their first day.
- Useful Day-to-Day Staples: We will always put forward items that we think are useful for the recipient in their working lives. That’s why we recommend 100gsm journals, refillable pen sets, insulated powder-coated drinkware, and tech essentials like power banks. These are the items people use time and time again, ensuring your welcome pack is a real boost to the team member rather than becoming a pile of bits they don’t use after week one.
- Quality Branding Methods: When you put your logo on a product, you want it to be perceived as really good quality. We’ll take a consultative approach, suggesting methods like engraving on metal or debossing on journals because they hold their edges and don’t look scruffy under office lighting. This keeps your logo placement consistent and ensures the finish is strong, avoiding the usual issues with off-centre prints if you’re mixing materials.
- Boxed To Arrive Perfectly: We know that welcome packs have surged in popularity, often sent directly to home addresses. We use premium presentation boxes and sturdy mail-style packaging in fixed sizes (e.g., 270×155×115mm to 290×235×110mm) to ensure contents don’t bounce around on multi-drop courier routes. This protects against crushed corners or scuffs, ensuring that when the new starter opens it, the presentation creates that perfect first impression.
- Reliable Lead Times: Lead time is a popular question, and we know you have deadlines for start dates. We put forward onboarding sets with 5-7 working day lead times from proof approval to keep things moving. This keeps the process tight and predictable, helping you avoid last-minute panic and ensuring the packs are ready exactly when your new starter lands.
- Subtle Executive Finish: For senior hires, or just a more premium look, we often suggest subtle branding areas (around 30×5mm to 40×6mm) and debossing on hard covers. We find that loud surface prints can sometimes look tired after a few commutes. By keeping the branding elegant, it ensures the product remains a professional tool they’ll want to take into every meeting.
- Sustainable Credentials: Sustainability is a real buzzword, and it’s important we don’t greenwash. We include options like certified responsibly sourced paper, 53% recycled stainless steel, 94% recycled aluminium, rPET bags, and responsibly sourced card gift boxes because we want to offer products with genuine credentials. If you need to answer questions internally about sustainability, we provide the traceability you need, ensuring the items aren’t just plastic that ends up in the bin.
- From Core Range to Bespoke: We use these items as our starting suggestions because we know they behave well in real use and brand cleanly. However, if your timeline and budget allow, we can take the decisions further and source bespoke items to match your exact box size, brand colours, and delivery plan without you having to start from scratch.
Our Onboarding Welcome Packs Range
- 5-Day Starter Set: We recommend the Onboarding Gift Set 01 – 1 Colour because we chose it around a 5-day lead time from proof approval. We know how important deadlines are, and this setup lets you issue a consistent desk kit before your new starter is left chasing chargers or pens.
- 100gsm Journal Control: Notebooks are a comfort blanket for new starters. We use the CROSS Medium Journal And Coventry Ballpen Gift Set as a benchmark because we picked 100gsm lined paper to cut down ink bleed. Debossing and engraving keep the branding from rubbing off in a bag, so you can hand this over to senior hires and know it will be perceived as really good quality.
- Bag That Doesn’t Crumple: We build around the Merch Gift Bag – Midi because we picked a format that carries an A5 notebook and stainless drinkware without the bag folding in on itself. If your team commutes, this reduces the usual crushed-paper issues you see with lighter giveaway bags, ensuring the brand exposure continues when they are out and about.
- Full-Box Print Match: We chose the Mood® Travis Gift Set – Full Colour because the full-colour gift box print area (915 × 641mm) lets us print the box itself instead of relying on stickers. If you’re sharing unboxing photos or sending packs to remote starters, this keeps the outer presentation looking fantastic across the whole batch.
- Power And Cable Together: We recommend the Chilli Concept Gift Set 8 – Engraved because we put the powerbank and charging cable in the same set as an rPET anti-theft backpack. People want to know they can charge devices when they need to; this keeps their kit together and reduces downtime.
- Engraving That Stays Sharp: We picked the Ella Stainless Steel Pen Set because 53% recycled stainless steel handles pocket carry and desk knocks far better than plastic alternatives. Engraving keeps your branding readable after constant use, so you’re not re-ordering pens just to replace worn prints – it’s about doing the right thing up front.
James Biggin
James joined Steel City in 2001 and took over the business, co-founded by his father, in 2006. He has been managing director for 19 years as of 2025.
FAQs
Why use onboarding packs?
Deliver a First Day Setup That Works with a Proper Welcome Gift Box
The first day isn’t a soft introduction – it’s where access, expectations, and working rhythm get set.
When a new hire opens a branded welcome package, the details do the work. We build these packs to remove the usual first-day friction and put useful kit within reach:
- Items like sleek notebooks, durable branded pens, or comfortable apparel aren’t filler. We pick them because they get used immediately – notes in meetings, quick handovers, day-to-day carry – and they hold up when they’re thrown in a bag, passed around, or worn on repeat.
- We use high-quality materials because cheap alternatives fail fast: thin covers crease, coatings scuff, ink rubs off, and trims split at stress points. The finish tells people what standard you work to, before the first meeting starts.
- Beyond function, the kit becomes a consistent reference point. It’s the same items, the same branding, the same baseline – so new starters know what “normal” looks like inside your organisation.
Combine digital and physical tools: We make the physical kit do more by pairing it with resources they need immediately:
- A guide to company systems.
- Quick-start references for software.
- A QR code linking to a welcome video from leadership.
Combining digital resources with physical kits keeps the pack practical, not decorative – the items get used, and the information is easy to reach when setup is happening in real time.
Actionable Tip: Make sure packages include items suited to their department or job function.
- For example, sales hires might appreciate cheat sheets on key clients.
- Tech hires could benefit from login credentials and security instructions preloaded on a flash drive.
You can also include notes on charity causes you support, and show appreciation for them joining the business.
Foster Belonging with Specific, Practical Personalisation
Belonging starts before the first team meeting.
Beyond the essentials, personalisation only works when it’s concrete. We add it to reduce the “outsider” period and make the first interactions easier.
Personal touches that matter:
- A handwritten note, specific to their role or background, acknowledges their unique journey and contribution.Example: “We’re thrilled you’re bringing your expertise in [specific field] to our team!”
- Incorporate cultural or location-based touches.
- If your company celebrates multiple holidays, include a calendar highlighting those dates.
- Add local treats from your city if you’re operating regionally.
Encourage feedback early:
Include a survey or a note inviting them to share their thoughts about the onboarding process. That gives you signal early – what was clear, what wasn’t, and what needs tightening next time.
Real-World Application: One tech company sent new hire kits to remote employees that included:
- Personalised Slack channel invites.
- Pre-assigned buddy system contacts.
- A small box of locally sourced snacks.
This approach introduced the tools and contacts that matter on day one, and it removed the “who do I ask?” gap that remote starters hit first.
Simplify Your Welcome Pack Process Without Losing Control of Quality
Streamline logistics while keeping the spec tight.
Putting together a high-quality starter package means managing design consistency, supplier timelines, and distribution – and the weak point is usually handoffs and missed checks.
Consider expert support: Partnering with a specialist vendor reduces the operational load because the work is structured and tracked. Look for services like:
- Personalised design consultations.
- Fulfilment tracking.
- Guaranteed sustainable materials and consistent branding across items.
Here at Steel City, we build and fulfil these packs end-to-end – from product selection and artwork proofing through to monitored production and delivery. Contact us today.
Test before committing:
- Test sample kits before approval.
- Evaluate both product quality and how the packaging reflects your brand.Example: Flimsy boxes collapse in transit and arrive scuffed. Choose rigid packaging so corners don’t crush and the contents stay presentable.
Expert Insight: As a HR leader, you can reduce shipping admin by using a vendor that offers “batch shipping.”
- Packages are sent directly to remote hires globally, arriving within two days.
- We can provide tracking updates directly, removing the need to chase shipments.
Build Culture Through Everyday Branded Merchandise That Holds Up
Items in your welcome kit should communicate who you are as an organisation.
Every inclusion needs a reason to exist. We choose items that survive real use – daily handling, travel, repeated washing, desk wear – because that’s what keeps your brand in circulation.
Customised items tell your story:
- Eco-conscious organisations might skip single-use plastics entirely, opting for compostable or reusable packaging.
- Companies focusing on wellness might include:
- Stress-relief tools (compact meditation guides).
- Branded yoga mats.
- Ergonomic desk supports.
Context matters:
- For a finance firm, branded notebooks with elegant designs suitable for boardroom settings would be ideal over generic mugs.
- A creative agency might showcase its brand voice with vibrant, quirky designs or custom illustrations.
Pro Tip: Include a story behind the items.
- Example: A label explaining why you chose certain materials – “This bottle reduces single-use plastics by 50% annually” – educates and inspires recipients.
Retain Top Talent with a Thoughtful Start
Your onboarding investment directly impacts retention rates.
First impressions last, and early operational friction (missing access, unclear setup, poor kit quality) creates avoidable drag in the first weeks.
Retention data that matters:
- Research shows employees are significantly more likely to stay with a company for three years if they feel appreciated during onboarding (source).
- Every part of your starter package should contribute to this – whether through utility, warmth, or both.
Extend the onboarding process:
- Send a secondary kit or gift after their first month.
- Celebrate milestones like finishing their probationary period with small gestures.
Make New Staff Proud to Join
A sense of pride builds organically when your employees feel they belong to something with standards.
A well-built starter pack becomes a visible marker of that standard – the kind of item people keep on their desk, carry to meetings, or reuse outside work because it’s actually useful.
Practical items that amplify pride:
- Stylish tote bags or high-quality desk accessories often find their way into daily use, subtly increasing brand visibility wherever they’re seen.
Connect to the company’s mission:
- If you’re a tech company building solutions for underserved communities, include:
- A mini-case study.
- An infographic about your impact.
- Heritage brands might share a small booklet about the company’s history and values.
Pro Insight: Pair staff onboarding boxes with access to community platforms, whether an internal social network or a shared Slack workspace.
- Giving new hires tools to connect immediately with colleagues reduces the slow start that happens when relationships are left to chance.
Luxury Packs for Corporate Hires
Corporate staff packs go beyond basic onboarding – we treat them as a controlled, repeatable way to introduce your standards, values, and working expectations.
A corporate welcome pack is put together to make new hires feel welcome while communicating professionalism and culture from the outset – through items that last, branding that stays sharp, and presentation that arrives intact.
Key benefits:
- Enhancing brand identity: High-quality branded items like tote bags, apparel, or tech accessories keep your branding visible in daily use, not just on day one.
- Fostering loyalty: Customised notes, meaningful gifts, or materials aligned with corporate goals give context – they show what matters and what you measure.
- Creating consistency: Whether for remote employees or in-office staff, professionally built packs keep the experience consistent – same spec, same quality threshold, same tone.
- Improving retention rates: A strong first impression signals that you invest in execution, not just messaging – and it sets expectations for a long-term relationship.
Our Reviews
View All4 weeks ago
Second time ordering from Steel City. The team has been marvellous once again. Very attentive to my requests, and in this occasion - very short deadline. They were quick to respond, and delivered on time in spite of the challenge of time. Always respond quickly and very proactive. I highly recommend this company for any marketing needs. Their brouchure is full of ideas and nothing is out of reach. Thank you once again team!
Yael Leinman
3 months ago
“Really happy with service from start to finish! Quick turnaround from ordering to receiving products.”
andrew futter
3 months ago
Steel City supplied magnets for us recently on behalf of one of our charity sector clients. Both David & Rowan from initial quote, through to overseeing the project itself were brilliant. Very pleased with the finished product, and quicker than initially expected. Thanks again, Marc
Marc Bickers
3 months ago
Amazing service through out and unbeatable lead times! Steel City really makes the impossible possible!
A Google User
3 months ago
Great service from start to finish and excellent product.
Toby Robinson
3 months ago
Fantastic all round, great communcation from Rowan and the team, products came exactly as described, really simply process would 100% recommend using them, very trustworty.
Kate Harvey
4 months ago
We used Steel City Marketing for company merchandising and had a brilliant experience. Quick turnaround, open communication, and high-quality on delivery! Shout out to Debbie and Rowan! Would absolutely recommend.
Zander Monty
7 months ago
Communication and customer service was excellent. High quality product. Thank you Rowan.
Mohammed Abdulla
8 months ago
James and Rowan were super helpful in helping us finalise our plans and delivered a product we are super happy with! :-)
Destination Ripon
9 months ago
A huge thank you to Rowan and Debbie at Steel City for all their help with our new merchandise for our rebranding launch! They were a dream to work with, super friendly and responsive! Communication was absolutely on point throughout the whole process, which made everything run so smoothly. The merch looks fantastic and really brought our new brand to life. I can’t recommend them enough!
Louise Fairhurst
10 months ago
Delighted with the service, the product and the prompt delivery - thank you 😀
Graham Dunn
10 months ago
Had a fantastic experience ordering products through Steel City. From very first contact through to delivery everyone was very helpful and professional, keeping me informed at every step of the way, and ensured a speedy outcome - an extremely efficient process from start to finish.
Jonathan Couch
11 months ago
These guys are super. They are all very personable and incredibly easy to work with, and will stop at nothing to make sure the order is exactly right. We have made three orders from them now and have been really pleased each time.
Jacob Baldwin
11 months ago
A really quick turnaround and they were happy to do whatever changes were needed. Amazing service, thank you so much!
Sophie Barnett
11 months ago
Great service from the whole team from ordering, through fulfilment to billing. Staff were all friendly and accommodating to our needs and made great suggestions to our order - thank you. Will use again!
Claire C
12 months ago
I ordered name badges from Steel City, the communication from Rowan and the final product were first class, I will definitely use them again.
David Roberts
1 year ago
We have used Steel City a number of times and this order was no different - a fast, friendly and efficient service from start to finish! Highly recommended for any and all branded goods!
Chantries and Pewleys Estate Agents
1 year ago
Excellent customer service throughout the whole process - from initial contact through to delivery. I was kept informed at each stage. Friendly and helpful staff. Thanks.
Rebecca Norton
1 year ago
Ordered loads of branded merch from them (we're talking in the 1000s) multiple times over the past few years and they never fail to be absolutely spectacular with their customer service, general friendliness and their helpfulness! The merch is top notch quality, and will happily continue using Steel City for many orders to come! Hugely recommend!
Jordon Horn
1 year ago
We have ordered several branded products from Steel City, and we have been extremely impressed by both the quality of the products themselves and also the service we've received from their fantastic team. Georgia in particular has been brilliant - her friendly demeanour and genuine willingness to help us make the right decisions for our business made the entire process seamless. No question was too trivial, and no request was ever too much trouble for her. Steel City has earned our trust as a reliable and customer-focused company, and we wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them to anyone looking for high-quality branded products with exceptional service to match. Thanks guys!
Carleys
1 year ago
I have known Steel City Marketing for many, many years and always find them extremely professional. The whole process: from responding to my initial inquiry; through to tracking delivery is managed in a super professional way. On top of that - they are lovely, friendly people ... highly recommended :-)
Patrick Ross
1 year ago
Seamless from start to finish. Very helpful company, brilliant product and delivery on time. Couldn't recommend more.
Catriona McDonald
1 year ago
We are delighted with our branded hoodies. The team are a pleasure to work with and provided an excellent service on a tight deadline. Thoroughly recommend Steel City Marketing.
Richard Kerr
1 year ago
Good quality products, competitively priced with excellent communications throughout the whole process.
Dave Lawrence
1 year ago
Fabulous fast and friendly service, cracking banner :)
Mai Mai Steele
1 year ago
Very helpful and friendly customer service, and great job on pin badges produced for our Freshers campaign
Showroom Cinema
1 year ago
Absolutely A-1 in every area. From design, to communication, to delivery, processing, speed, quality of products - exceptional!
Katie Bell
1 year ago
My first time using Steel City BM, what a great service, we delayed things and messed them about a bit but they still came up trumps, got the merchandise we wanted, printed with our Logos and delivered within the very short timeframe we gave them, excellent service. I would highly recommend using them
anth thompson
1 year ago
I am a repeat customer for a good reason and have been for years. Never let me down, courteous, friendly service, quality goods, lovely efficient firm to deal with (exemplary COMMUNICATION as well, which seems to be a commodity fast diminishing between client and supplier these days) and going forward I’ll be back again - at least twice a year with ever increasing volumes. Can’t recommend them highly enough. Great firm.
Milly Johnson
2 years ago
Recently sourced products from Steel City and couldn't be happier! From the initial enquiry to the delivery of the products, every step of the process was handled with the utmost professionalism and care. The quality is exceptional, the customer service is outstanding, and the delivery was prompt. I highly recommend them to any business looking for reliable, high-quality suppliers. Thank you for exceeding our expectations!
Georgina T
2 years ago
Ordered a bulk order of 500 branded notepads on the Monday and they had been delivered on the Friday! Impressively fast. Great quality products, and the customer service is the best i've experienced- both Rowan the Sales Administrator and Debbie the Account Manager were excellent, very rapid email response with all the info needed. We will continue to use Steel City for our company's branded merch.
Amber Robinson
2 years ago
Can't rate the team at Steel City Marketing highly enough. I've ordered a few different promotional items just recently and every single time, from start to finish, the service from Georgia & Rowan in particular, has been first class. Each item we have had (leather key fobs, feather flags and printed bags) are of an excellent quality and have been produced to a very high standard. I've always been pleasantly surprised at the quality, speed and with the exceptional service this company has always fulfilled our orders.
Grooms Garage
3 years ago
Brilliant service from start to finish. Rowan went that 'extra mile' to keep me informed on progress.
John Nix
2 years ago
Highly recommend Steel City for all promotional items and gifts. The team were very helpful and supportive in helping us source what we were looking for and sent multiple free samples for us to test the quality prior to us making a final decision. Highly recommend Steel City and look forward to working with them again in the future. - Review on behalf of AUMA Actuators Ltd.
Callum Hopkins
2 years ago
“As always, the service was fast and reliable with my favourite bit being the communication. As a customer you know exactly what to expect at every point of the process because your expectations are managed beautifully and all information is communicated well.”
Kimberly Sewell
2 years ago
Excellent service and produced items once again from Debbie and the whole team at Steel City. I won't go anywhere else for my promo items.
Andrew Williams
2 years ago
Super speedy process and the team were on hand throughout! Highly recommend - thank you again!
Hannah Williams
2 years ago
Fantastic experience using Steel City from the minute I emailed James about my requirements to the finished product being delivered. Can't speak highly enough of Rowan for her regular communication and letting me know how things are progressing.
Karen Leeder
2 years ago
Great experience of using Steel City, nothing was too much trouble, everyone within the team that we dealt with were really helpful, will definitely be using them again!
Katie Peel
2 years ago
Good Products, good service - kept informed all the way - Steel City met my expectations which are pretty high - nicely done SC...
Martin Wilson
2 years ago
The team at Steel City have been extremely helpful whilst ordering new merchandise for a small charity. They came up with suggestions for the products, enhanced the logo and offered an excellent price. Overall very friendly and efficient and we are delighted with the final products.
Anne S
2 years ago
Excellent customer service and communication, good turnaround times and a quality product. Many Thanks!
Joy Arnott
2 years ago
Excellent customer service
Helen Wathall
2 years ago
Great communication, good prices and excellent quality products. Thank you.
Lisa Woodhouse
2 years ago
The process of placing the order as always was handled well and a pleasure to work with you and your team at Steel City.
Clare Holden
2 years ago
Great communication, quick delivery, excellent range of products.
Ericka Hill
2 years ago
great, professional and amazing team. exactly the kind of company yo'd want ot do business with!!
Renee Gilliland
2 years ago
An amazing company to work with! I ordered some corporate gifts for our company and everyone I spoke to was incredibly helpful, they made all changes I asked for and managed to get everything to us in time for an event we were attending!
Ashleigh Birch
3 years ago
Great price, prompt delivery. Great customer service. Debbie and Rowan are great and I really recommend their services.
Mandeep Singh