Calendar of Ideas
There are countless special days and awareness weeks that celebrate the world of work, professional life, and public service - from ‘Thank a Teacher Day’ and ‘International Nurses Day’ to ‘World Veterinary Day’, ‘Engineers Week’, and more.
This Calendar of Ideas rounds up the best moments to show appreciation with original, funny, uplifting thank-you gifts.
Use it to spark ideas for teacher gifts, nurse appreciation gifts, vet gifts , dentist gifts, pharmacist gifts, engineer gifts, architect gifts, accountant gifts, lawyer gifts, pilot gifts, police and fire service appreciation, coastguard, GP/doctor/surgeon, physio, therapist, scientist, journalist, surveyor, coder, and more. Whether you’re planning ahead for UK, US, European, or Global observances, you’ll find timely prompts for each profession.
We’ll keep adding new professions as we go, so if you have a category in mind that we haven’t covered yet, please drop us a note!
Looking for last-minute thank-you ideas, budget gifts under £25, or personalised options? We’ve got you. Explore the dates below, pick the profession, and head to our store to choose the size, colour, and style that fits - easy to order, premium print quality, and fast delivery.
This year, turn every occasion into a chance to say: “Thanks for everything you do”.
January
Law Enforcement Appreciation Day (9 Jan) (US) → Police
National Pharmacist Day (12 Jan) (US) → Pharmacist
HM Coastguard Anniversary (~15 Jan) (UK) → Coastguard
International Day of Education (24 Jan) (Global) → Teacher, TA, Early Years
Data Privacy Day (28 Jan) (Global) → Coder/IT
Self-Assessment Deadline (31 Jan) (UK) → Accountant
February
National Apprenticeship Week (early Feb) (UK/EU) → Engineer, Architect, Surveyor
International Day of Women and Girls in Science (11 Feb) (Global) → Scientist, Engineer, Architect
Valentine’s Day (14 Feb) (Global) → All
Engineers Week (week of 3rd Mon; Feb) (US) → Engineer
Random Acts of Kindness Day (17 Feb) (Global) → Carer, Nurse, Medic, Teacher, Vet
Love Your Pet Day (20 Feb) (Global) → Vet, Vet Nurse
March
World Engineering Day (4 Mar) (Global) → Engineer
Pi Day (14 Mar) (Global) → Scientist, Coder, Engineer
World Oral Health Day (20 Mar) (Global) → Dentist
Global Surveyors’ Day (21 Mar) (Global) → Surveyor
Law Day (Europe legal year opens / Michaelmas) (UK/EU) → Lawyer
International Doctors’ Day (30 Mar) (Global) → Doctor, Surgeon, GP
Start of Spring / Garden prep (late Mar) (UK/EU/US) → Gardener
British Science Week (10 days in Mar) (UK) → Scientist, Engineer, Architect, Coder
Mother’s Day / Mothering Sunday (date varies in March) (UK) → All
April
New tax year begins (6 Apr) (UK) → Accountant
Easter Period (varies) (UK/EU/US) → Teacher, TA, Early Years, All
World Creativity and Innovation Day (21 Apr) (Global) → All
Earth Day (22 Apr) (Global) → Gardener, Scientist, Engineer, Coastguard
International Girls in ICT Day (24 Apr) (Global) → Coder
International Pilots’ Day (26 Apr) (Global) → Pilot
Arbor Day (last Fri Apr) (US) → Gardener
World Veterinary Day (last Sat Apr) (Global) → Vet, Vet Nurse
National Gardening Week (RHS) (late Apr/early May) → Gardener
May
International Firefighters’ Day (4 May) (Global) → Fire
International Day of the Midwife (5 May) (Global) → Midwife
International Nurses Day (12 May) (Global) → Nurse
Nurse Appreciation Week (6–12 May) (US) → Nurse
World Family Doctor Day (19 May) (Global)→ GP
Mother’s Day (date varies in May) (US) → All
National Smile Month (mid-May → mid-Jun) (UK) → Dentist
Veterinary Nursing Awareness Month (May) (Global) → Vet Nurse
RNLI Mayday appeal (through May) (UK) → Coastguard / Lifesaving
June
Global Day of Parents (01 Jun) (Global) → All
World Environment Day (5 Jun) (Global) → Gardener, Scientist
US National Gardening Week (1st week Jun) (US) → Gardener
National Smile Month (mid-May → mid-June) (UK) → Dentist
Thank a Teacher Day (mid-Jun) (UK) → Teacher, TA, Early Years
Father’s Day (3rd Sun Jun) (UK/US/EU) → All
International Women in Engineering Day (23 Jun) (Global) → Engineer
Armed Forces Day (last Sat Jun) (UK) → Pilot, Medic
Uni Graduations (Jun–Jul) (Global) → Professor, Doctor, Engineer, Architect, Lawyer, Accountant
July
US Independence Day (4 Jul) (US) → All
NHS Birthday (5 Jul) (UK) — Nurse, Doctor, GP, Pharmacist, Physio, Therapist, Scientist
International Paramedics Day (8 Jul) (Global) → Medic/Paramedic
World Horse Day (11 Jul) (Global) → Vet, Vet Nurse
System Administrator Day (last Fri Jul) (Global) → Coder/IT
End of School Term (late Jul) (Global) → Teacher, TA, Early Years
International Day of Friendship (30 Jul) (Global) → All
August
US Coast Guard Day (4 Aug) (US) → Coastguard
International Cat Day (8 Aug) (Global) → Vet, Vet Nurse
National Allotments Week (mid Aug) (UK) → Gardener
National Aviation Day (19 Aug) (US) → Pilot/Aviation
National Dog Day (26 Aug) (Global) → Vet, Vet Nurse
RHS Flower Shows / peak garden season (Global) → Gardener
A-level / GCSE Results (mid/late Aug) (UK) → Teacher, Professor
Back-to-School (Aug) (US) → Teacher, TA, Professor
September
Back to School (early Sept) (UK, EU) → Teacher, TA, Early Years
Labour Day (1st Mon Sept) (US/Canada) → All
International Day of Police Cooperation (7 Sept) (Global) → Police
International Literacy Day (8 Sept) (Global) → Teacher, TA, Early Years
World Physiotherapy Day (8 Sept) (Global) → Physio
Emergency Services Day (9 Sept) (Global) → Police, Fire, Medic, Coastguard
Programmers’ Day (256th day of the year) (Global) → Coder
World Patient Safety Day (17 Sept) (Global) → Nurse, Doctor, Medic
Freshers’ Week (mid/late Sept) (Global) → Professor, University
World Pharmacists Day (25 Sept) (Global) → Pharmacist
Air Ambulance Week (mid-Sept) (UK) → Medic/Paramedic, Pilot (air ambulance)
International Thank a Police Officer Day (3rd Sat Sep) (Global) → Police
National Police Memorial Day (last Sun in Sept) (UK) → Police
World Maritime Day (late Sept) (Global) → Coastguard
October
World Teachers’ Day (5 Oct) → Teacher, TA, Early Years
World Architecture Day (1st Mon in Oct) (Global) → Architect
World Mental Health Day (10 Oct) (Global) → Therapist, Carer, Nurse
Ada Lovelace Day (2nd Tue Oct) (Global) → Coder, Engineer (women in STEM)
AHPs Day (Allied Health Professions) (14 Oct) (UK) → Physio, Therapist, Pharmacist, Scientist
Fire Prevention Week (2nd week Oct) (US) → Fire
Pharmacy Week (3rd week Oct) (US) → Pharmacist
World Occupational Therapy Day (27 Oct) (Global) → Therapist
International Day of Care and Support (29 Oct) (Global) → Carer, Nurse, Healthcare
Breast Cancer Awareness Month (Oct) (Global) → Healthcare, Nurse
November
International Accounting Day (10 Nov) (Global) → Accountant
World Science Day for Peace & Development (10 Nov) (Global) → Scientist
National Engineering Day (early/mid-Nov) (UK) → Engineer
Pro Bono Week (early Nov) (UK/US) → Lawyer
Movember / Men’s Health (Nov) (Global) → GP, Doctor, Physio, Healthcare
Black Friday / Cyber Monday (late Nov) (Global) → All
December
Christmas Gifting (1–24 Dec) (Global) → All
Computer Science Education Week / Hour of Code (early Dec) (US/Global) → Coder
International Civil Aviation Day (7 Dec) (Global) → Pilot
World Meditation Day (21 Dec) (Global) → All
Year-End Thanks (last week Dec) (Global) → All
