Keep Your New Hires Engaged This Christmas Season

Lucy Billing • 18 December 2025

Secure Your Talent. Strengthen Your Culture. Reduce Dropouts.

The festive period is one of the most exciting times of the year but for hiring managers, it can also be one of the riskiest. Once a candidate accepts an offer, the time between “Yes” and “Day One” is critical. With Christmas downtime, busy diaries, and competing job opportunities, candidates can easily become disengaged… and disengaged candidates become dropouts.


The solution?  Engagement Days -  Bringing your future hires into the business before their start date transforms commitment, boosts excitement, and significantly reduces the risk of losing them to alternative offers.

Why Engagement Days Matter (Especially at Christmas)

The body content of your post goes here. To edit this text, click on it and delete this default text and start typing your own or paste your own from a different source.

1. Keeps Your New Hire "Warm"

The festive season is prime time for counteroffers and competitor approaches. Regular contact signals that  they’ve made the right decision and reinforces their commitment.

2. Builds Emotional Connection

A meet-the-team day, a Christmas lunch invite, or a tour of the office creates early loyalty and belonging — far more powerful than emails or contracts alone.

3. Reduces First-Day Nerves

Onboarding, system access, and brief training sessions help new starters hit the ground running. Confidence on Day One = better performance and retention.

4. Shows Your Culture Early

Your business values, environment, and people become tangible. This reassures candidates that they’re joining a supportive, dynamic workplace.

5. Makes You the Employer of Choice

A company that invests early stands out. Engagement days show professionalism, structure, and genuine care for your people.

What You Can Offer Before Their Start Date

  • Onboarding & paperwork sessions
  • Meet the team lunches / coffee mornings
  • Shadowing or taster days
  • System or process training
  • Christmas socials or team events
  • Welcome pack drop-offs / check-in calls

The Result

Higher Retention. Stronger Starts. Zero Dropouts. During the holiday season, staying connected with your future employees isn’t optional — it’s essential. Engage them now, and you’ll keep them committed well into 2025.


Need support organising engagement days?  We can help you structure the touchpoints, schedule sessions, and keep your new hires warm throughout the festive period. Let’s keep your talent locked in.


Regional Recruitment Services – placing the right people, in the right seats, for the right reasons.

Why Do Candidates Choose Recruitment Companies Over Direct Applications?

by Lucy Billing • 13 January 2026
In today's competitive job market, many professionals choose to work with recruitment companies rather than applying directly to employers. The reason? Access, expertise, and advocacy that candidates rarely get when job searching alone.

Hire Before Christmas? Here's Why It Matters

by Lucy Billing • 11 December 2025
Every year, I see the same thing happen you tell yourself you'll "start fresh" in January. You plan to post your job ads, review applications, and kick off the new year with new hires. But by the time you're ready to move, the best talent has already been snapped up. Recent data shows UK business hiring appetite has dropped to one of the lowest levels in years. Many firms are saying: "We'll wait until next year before recruiting." And while that may feel cautious, it carries real risk. If you're thinking about hiring, here's why now — not January — is the perfect time for you to act.

The 2026 Workforce: What Employers Need to Know About Gen Z Candidates

by Lucy Billing • 10 December 2025
As we enter 2026, Generation Z (born between 1997 and 2012) will make up an increasingly large portion of the workforce. For recruiters and employers, understanding what makes this generation tick is not just helpful it is essential. Here is your guide to attracting, hiring, and keeping top Gen Z talent.

Introducing Our New Tech Recruitment Team

by Lucy Billing • 8 December 2025
We’re incredibly excited to announce the launch of our dedicated Tech Recruitment Team and even more excited to introduce the two people behind it. Technology is reshaping how we work, and the race for tech talent has never been more competitive. From AI-driven automation to cloud migration, businesses across every sector need skilled professionals who can turn digital ambition into reality. That’s where Holly Kemp and Asha Mohamed come in.

Minimum Wage Set to Rise 4.1%: What This Means for Hiring in 2026

by Lucy Billing • 27 November 2025
The Government has announced a 4.1% increase to the National Minimum Wage, effective from April 2026. From April 2026, the national minimum wage for over-21s rises to £12.71/hr, for 18–20‑year‑olds to £10.85/hr, and for 16–17‑year‑olds and apprentices to £8.00/hr. While this may seem like a modest change, even small increases can have a significant impact on recruitment and workforce planning. We're sharing this now so you can plan ahead and not scramble when you need to fill a role. Understanding these changes early gives you time to adjust your strategy, budget effectively, and stay ahead of your competition. Hiring becomes more strategic, not reactive: given rising wage costs and tighter budgets, businesses should plan ahead rather than hiring in a rush to avoid urgent hiring at unsustainable cost.

The Cost of DIY Hiring: The Hidden Price of Going It Alone

by Lucy Billing • 27 November 2025
Many companies choose DIY hiring when budgets are tight or when roles seem simple. At first glance, it looks cost-effective: no agency fees, and existing staff can fill the gap. However, the real costs often tell a different story. Hidden costs of DIY hiring, like lost time, mis-hires, and stretched vacancies, add up fast. Companies often end up spending more internally than if they worked with experts. If your goal is to reinforce the value your agency brings, this is exactly the story to tell.

Why Temp Jobs Spike Before the New Year & How to Make It Work for You

by Hamzah Gaffar • 27 October 2025
Looking for work before the new year? Discover why temporary jobs surge in the final months, what roles are hiring now and how to turn temp work into long-term success with Regional Recruitment.

Hot Jobs This Autumn: Where Opportunities Are Growing in the UK

by Georgia Gilbert • 29 September 2025
Autumn is always such an exciting time at Regional Recruitment. As we head into the festive season, some departments really start to thrive and if you’re looking for work, or even just curious about where opportunities are growing, now’s the perfect time to take a closer look. Our logistics and industrial departments are always the busiest at this time of year. And honestly, it’s easy to see why.
Candidate and recruiter shaking hands during a job interview, representing recruitment, hiring,

How to Attract Top Talent Beyond Salary in 2025

by Teigan Keen • 1 September 2025
Learn how to attract top talent in 2025 by offering flexibility, growth opportunities, supportive culture, and values-driven initiatives.
Lady, blue, job, laptop

How To Stay Motivated in Your Job Search During Summer

by Teigan Keen • 28 July 2025
The summer months often feel slower. The sun is out, holidays are in full swing, and life takes on a more relaxed pace. But while others take a break, you can use this time to get ahead in your job search. Many companies still hire in July and August, and staying active during this period can give you a serious advantage. Here are 5 simple and effective ways to stay motivated and make progress in your job hunt this summer.