The journey that a project takes a team on is often a bit of a roller coaster, offering highs and lows. Particularly as the deadline draws closer, team members will often be under a lot of stress. It is therefore really nice, when a project is successfully completed, to say a little thank you to everyone who has been involved. Whilst it is fun to make grand gestures, the budget does not always allow for grandeur. On the other hand, after all the hard work the team has put in you don't want to look cheap or ungrateful. A small budget does not necessarily mean a disappointing celebration however. Using a little creativity, your small budget can go a long way. It is the thoughtful touches that really count. One of the more creative approaches to this conundrum is offered by the experts at Parallel Project Training, who suggest asking the team at the beginning of a project what would motivate them. Attempting to fulfill these requests at the end of the project can be a great way to round off the work, assuming the requests are achievable! Alternatively how about one of the following:

●     At the end of a tough project, how about taking a little time out to do some team building. This doesn't have to be expensive, and could even be a walk in the countryside followed by a pub lunch. This allows a little headspace and fresh air to clear the cobwebs and prepare yourselves for the next task. It is also a good opportunity to debrief, particularly for project management apprenticesfor whom this may have been their first project.

●     Although a meal in a restaurant may seem like an extravagance for the whole team, there are ways of bringing down the cost. Keep the gathering small and invite only the key people involved in delivering the project. Booking a restaurant midweek often gives you access to some of the cheaper, but still delicious set menus.

●     How about a free day off? At the end of a busy project, a long weekend is likely to be appreciated more than almost anything else. If there is free time between projects then allowing this extra day is probably at minimal cost to yourself.

●     If you would rather make a gift to individuals rather than inviting everybody along to a group activity then a gift card is a nice way to enable people to treat themselves. Choose a nice shop that sells something for everyone or alternatively purchase one of the High Street cards that offers the opportunity to make a purchase in one of many different shops.

●     Personal gifts are not always practical if you have been managing a large team, but if the team is small enough then thinking about an individual gift that has personal significance is a really great way to say thanks. 

●     If budgets are really tight and a restaurant meal or gifts are not feasible then sometimes saying thank you publicly is one of the best ways to acknowledge hard work. How about setting up a little ‘end of project’ awards night where individual commitment and hard work is recognised.