We compiled a list of graduate goodies last year, so back by popular demand, we have compiled our 2020 offering below.
This year we are focusing on gifts for her. Showcasing products from some of my favourite small businesses. Helping you to find the right gift, something unique to gift your graduate. Tell them just how proud you are of them and their amazing achievement.
And even though it won't be a traditional celebration this year, we still have a great excuse to make a big fuss. More so this year as thousands of graduates won't have their official graduation ceremony.
We have selected a range of gifts that are under £50 and are inspired by degrees, subjects, and student interests to help you out! We have found our favourite gift for the subjects below:
- Business
- Medicine
- Law
- Sports Science
- Arts
- Hospitality and Tourism
- Media & Comms
- Music
- Accountancy
- Teaching
So, what makes a good graduation gift?
Recent university graduates are heading off into a new chapter of life. Some might be heading straight into a job and others might be taking some time out to travel (not this year of course!) or weigh up their options.
You have a few choices before you can track down the perfect gift.
What type of gift do you want to give?
Something Thoughtful
Funny or Amusing
Dead Practical
Traditional or Commemorative
Financial
Experience Based
What's your budget?
Our gift ideas are all under £50.
There is something here if you are a friend, parent, grandparent, auntie, uncle, sister, or brother wanting to congratulate your loved one's achievements.
Once you know what type of gift you want to give it and your ideal budget, you will find it much easier to find your perfect graduate gift.
To help you on your way and to inspire some ideas, we've searched our little black book of contacts, friends, and favourite small businesses for a range of gifts that cover all bases.
In no particular order, let's start with our first product.
01 - FOR THE GRADUATE READY FOR BUSINESS
Send your congratulations and a proud message to your clever clogs with the undated HELLO TIME Planner's unique graduation gift set. Make sure they are ready to get straight down to business.
Hello Time can print a message on the inside front cover of the planner. Hence, as their new chapter begins, it means your special message and words of encouragement and congratulations will be with them all year long.
Graduating is a lot of fun, but modern life can be overwhelming at times as graduates enter a new chapter in their life. Many graduates will find that they miss the routine and guidance given in their 15+ years of schooling. The HELLO TIME Planner helps individuals map out their goals, plan their next move, jot down their dreams, make notes, and scribble out their ideas.
A perfect and practical gift to help them get organised, remember everything, and keep it all together. One book, six essential tools they'll find so useful to organise, plan, and schedule their Time successfully.
What's more, our gift set comes with a set of three stylish black knight pencils with iconic white tip featuring our best-selling quote - 'Go Ahead | Be Amazing'.
Personalised Graduate Planner Gift Set £42.95 by Hello Time (gift wrap options available)
For more details, visit this link.
02 - FOR THE 'JUST WHAT THE DOCTOR ORDERED' GRADUATE
Studio Seed's gift boxes are just beautiful. I've ogled over them for months, well, since a few months ago when I saw Tamsin talk to Mrs Social on a Facebook Live and wondered could I buy one for myself? Obvs I'd choose the Tea & Comfort Box because of its neutral colours, and I do have a penchant for socks especially cuddly ones like these and tea!
So, after a full-on Uni course, heaps of studying it's time to celebrate. After all that partying and lots of fizz, it's probably Time to pamper yourself before you deep dive into caring for others.
- Includes their bestselling, super-comfortable Tom Lane Alpaca Socks
- Raashi Handmade textured Ceramic Mug, Ivory
- Cannister of Loose Leaf Tea from the Rare Tea Co.
- Silver Tea Strainer
- Our signature luxury gift box, tied with ribbon
- Complimentary premium greeting card and envelope
Tea and Comfort Gift Box £37.95 by Studio Seed (includes gift box & greetings card)
For more details, visit this link.
03 - FOR THE 'LAW-ABIDING' GRADUATE
I have stalked Berylune ever since I first visited my Brother in Leamington Spa a few years ago. Their original little shop was stuffed with AMAZING stationery, and I'd spend ages in there scanning and inspecting every pen and desktop beauty. Berylune has recently moved to a bigger store just up the road to Warwick St. Now there is more space to showcase their curated range of stationery, homewares, gifts, and cards. I love this shop, and I'm super proud that they stock the HELLO TIME Planner.
So, lawyers always need a pen, right? And as much as I love to feature the daddy of all fountain pens, the Montblanc, I'm not sure that fits everyone's budget! So, instead, I had to feature the Kaweco Skyline Classic fountain pen because they are so beautiful to write with. Such a handy size for dropping into your pencil case or handbag, plus the colours are gorgeous; the only issue is what colour to choose! I have this pen in the shade, Macchiato but I love this Mint one too.
It is made to the same best-selling octagonal design since the 1930s!
This lidded fountain pen measures just 10.5cm when closed, which extends to 13.5cm with the cap placed at the other end. Made from lightweight plastic, they are great for keeping about your person. It has a beautiful stainless-steel nib and takes standard short international ink cartridges. Berylune sells the cartridges too.
Kaweco Skyline Classic Sport Fountain Pen – Mint £21.95 by Berylune (all pens come in a black & gold card box, with the option of upgrading to an attractive gift tin).
For more details, visit this link.
04 - FOR THE SPORTY GRADUATE
There is something so unique about Jan Erika's hand-painted water bottles, a gift so lovely to cherish for your sporting graduate.
Given the blank canvas of reusable water bottles, Jan used the gorgeous Chinoiserie wallpaper and the formal gardens to the rear of Wrest Park as inspiration to create three different designs exclusively for English Heritage. The designs are named 'Wrest Wallpaper', 'Earl de Grey' and 'Fluro Earl de Grey' and are all hand-painted, to create unique pieces.
The bottles are stainless steel and have a leak-proof double-wall construction to keep your drink chilled or hot for prolonged periods. They are a great alternative to plastic bottles and are sure to become a daily essential.
Jan Erika Hand Painted Water Bottle £35.00 available at English Heritage
For more details, visit this link.
05 - FOR THE ARTY GRADUATE
Hayley Southwood, what can I say, a beautiful soul and champion of the small business'.
Hayley runs The Southwood Hub & Southwood Living. Our paths crossed a couple of years ago when Hayley contacted me to stock our planners having spotted us on The Brand Stylist blog. 'The most covetable, stylish and thoughtful gifts for discerning entrepreneurs'.
We hit it off after a coffee at the hub having discovered we shared values and passions (including monochrome and stationery!) and a drive for women in business. Hayley has just launched these affirmation bracelets in collaboration with Clemmie Clayton, founder of 'Miss Clemmie' who is such a talented jewellery designer.
A beautiful silk and labradorite bracelet to remind your graduate of their daily affirmations and help focus you on their new journey.
We picked this as a gift for graduates because of Labradorite's ability to support creativity and calm a busy mind. It enhances self-confidence as they follow paths aligned with our deeper potential.
Each piece is handmade by Clemmie in her Northamptonshire studio. The bracelet is adjustable and measures from approximately 15cm - 25cm.
Affirmation Bracelet- Labradorite £25.00 by Southwood Living & By Clemmie
For more details, visit this link.
06 - FOR THE CLEVER COOKIE
It was a pleasure to meet the lovely Honeywell Biscuit Co on a notonthehighstreet.com day last year. Their biscuits are so creative and bring a smile to your face. The perfect gift for any graduate with a sweet tooth!
We've picked out these stylish marble and gold congratulations biscuits. Each biscuit is handmade using the best local ingredients and fairtrade vanilla beans, before being carefully iced and packed into our individual matchbox gift boxes.
It includes six delicious vanilla biscuits, iced with marble icing, and hand-painted with edible gold.
Congratulations Marble Biscuit Gift Set £20.00 by Honeywell Biscuit
For more details, visit this link.
07 - FOR THE FUTURE JOURNO GRADUATE
Ok so this blows the budget, but I couldn't resist as it's bloody brilliant!
Zellie was introduced to me by Opal & Co, and I just love this backpack. Ok so yes, I have a bit of a penchant for bags or perhaps more of an obsession but boy does this bag tick all the boxes. It has a compartment for everything; I love it because it is so organised!
Zellie-Zipper is the ultimate in backpack design. With over 22 pockets and features, this bag is your perfect work/travel companion. However, the most exciting part has got to be the innovative interchangeable front patch, allowing you to change the colour and design whenever it takes your fancy. The bag comes with a matching black patch over the front pocket as standard, but you can swap in a new look here!
Zellie-Zipper Work/Travel Backpack £139.99 by Zellie
For more details, visit this link.
08 - FOR THE MUSIC MAD GRAD
We are in love with Ham products and screen prints.
We discovered the artist behind Ham, the lovely Jo at a Southwood Hub Meet Up last year, and was instantly fascinated by her story. Her studio is not far from ours, and we love nothing more than a studio cuppa and a biscuit or two! HAM follows the contented life of Rabbit – capturing his daily adventures, sporting escapades, and social outings in silhouette form. Established in 2011, HAM's minimal aesthetic seeks to add a serious edge to its playful subject matter.
We love them all, but one of our favourites is DJ Rabbit, and what better gift for your music-loving graduate than this signed print.
Each HAM screen print is handmade, unframed, and come either flat (30 x 40 cm) or rolled (50 x 70 cm).
DJ Rabbit Print (30 x 40 cm) £42.00 by HAMs (signed by Jo)
For more details, visit this link.
09 - FOR THE NUMBER CRUNCHING GRAD
What better gift for an accountancy or mathematics student than a purse to keep their new earning safe! And they don't get better than Willow and Hive's Handmade products.
We met Willow and Hive at Christmas after visiting Fabulous Places Market at The Round House in Derby and instantly fell in love with their creative flair, passion for their craft, and gorgeous one-offs.
We love this hand marbled leather purse; it's a work of art and one of a kind. They were designed in their Warwickshire studio.
The leather will age beautifully and will develop a beautiful patina characteristic over Time. A natural process that will bear markings and colour changes giving your piece its own story.
This is a tanned vegetable leather the most ancient process in treating the leather. A slow and more environmentally friendly method means that a hide is converted to leather using natural plant-based tannins, from bark, fruit, and leaves, instead of synthetic extracts, and contains no toxins. Dimensions W 6.8" x H 3.9"
Marble Purse 2020 v.2 £38.00 by Willow & Hive (personalisation available)
For more details, visit this link.
10 - FOR THE 'BACK TO SCHOOL' GRAD
This lady, Kate, has some beautiful, thoughtful and smart products in her 'dept store for the mind'.
A print makes a lovely keepsake, and doesn't anyone appreciate a daily reminder of just how special they are? I have a penchant for fluorescent colour, and I loved Winne the Pooh when I was a kid so this print stood out for me and would make the ideal gift for a recently graduated teacher.
Each unique A4 print is individually hand screen printed by Flat 102 using non-toxic water-based inks onto beautifully thick and luxurious white 300gsm paper.
Promise me you will always remember screenprint £20.00 from Dept Store for the Mind
For more details, visit this link.
