There are few things more quintessentially British than the office collection for someone's leaving do. The card that gets passed around when someone's in a meeting. The envelope of contributions from people who aren't entirely sure who's leaving or why. The slightly chaotic gift bought in a rush because nobody quite sorted it in time.
It doesn't have to be this way.
The problem with traditional office collections
The typical office leaving gift process is a logistical nightmare. Someone volunteers to organise it, spends three days chasing contributions via WhatsApp and bank transfer, then panic-buys something in their lunch break. Half the office doesn't contribute in time. The result is often a generic gift card that the leaver smiles politely about.
Simply Gift's group gifting feature was made for exactly this situation. One link, shared with the team. Everyone chips in digitally, at their own pace. The organiser can see contributions in real time, and nobody needs to awkwardly hand over a fiver in the lift.
"A leaving gift isn't just about what someone is leaving. It's about who they're becoming. The best ones look forward, not back."
What actually makes a great leaving gift?
The best leaving gifts acknowledge the person's next chapter — not just celebrate what they're leaving behind:
- Retiring: Experiences they've always wanted — a cruise, a cooking class, a garden makeover. Or a keepsake that honours their career.
- Moving abroad: Something practical for their new life, or a beautiful memento of home — a UK-themed hamper, an illustrated map of where they're from.
- Starting something new: A voucher relevant to their next chapter, a quality notebook, something that says "we believe in what you're going to do."
- Moving cities: A city guide to their new home, experiences to explore it, or a restaurant voucher for when they settle in.
The card matters more than you think
Whatever you end up giving, invest in the card. Specific memories. Genuine warmth. A funny inside joke, if the relationship allows. The gift may fade in memory — the words someone wrote about you rarely do.
Budget guidance for teams: £5–£10 per person is completely normal and appropriate. With a team of 10, that's £50–£100 — enough for something genuinely lovely. With a larger team or more senior colleague, contributions naturally scale up.
Got a colleague leaving? Set up the collection in minutes.
No spreadsheets, no bank transfers, no chasing people in the corridor. One link, everyone chips in, done.
Start a group collection →