Staff ID Cards and Business Custom ID Cards for Your Company

Custom Staff and Business ID Cards from The Card Project UK

We are The Card Project UK. We design and print ID cards for businesses of all sizes across the UK. Over the years we have worked with sole traders, small teams, and much larger organisations, helping them get the right cards for their needs. We understand that every business works differently, so we aim to provide options that fit without unnecessary complications.

Why businesses use our ID cards

ID cards help in everyday work situations. When someone from your team arrives at a client’s premises or attends a meeting, a card that shows their name, photo, and company details makes the introduction straightforward. It answers the basic questions straight away and helps people feel more comfortable. Clients do not have to wonder who has turned up, and your team member can get on with the job more quickly.

Many of our customers also find the cards useful within their own operations. In a busy office, warehouse, or site, it becomes easier to recognise team members at a glance. They add a simple level of security without making anything more complicated than it needs to be. For example, if visitors or contractors are on site, staff can quickly see who belongs and who might need directing.

Different businesses use them in slightly different ways:

Tradespeople often carry them to show clients who they are when they arrive for a job, especially when working in people’s homes where trust matters.
Service companies use them so staff can identify themselves quickly when visiting customers or attending appointments.
Larger teams find them helpful for day-to-day access, for controlling entry to certain areas, and for making new starters feel part of the group sooner.
Some organisations use them alongside basic access systems, where the card might open a gate or door.

In short, they are one of those practical items that quietly make things run a little more smoothly, both with customers and inside the business itself.

Pre-designed staff ID cards

If you want something ready to use without starting from scratch, we have a range of pre-designed staff ID cards.

These come in several styles with different colours and layouts that suit most types of work, whether you are in the trades, professional services, or anything similar. We keep the designs clean and professional so they work across different sectors. Importantly, these pre-designed cards do not include your own logo – they use one of our standard layouts instead.

On each card we include:

A photo of the person (which helps with quick recognition)
The staff member's name
Your business name
Their email address
Their telephone number

Many sole traders and small businesses choose these because they give a polished look without needing any branding work first. You can get started quickly, and the cards still show that you have thought about how you present yourself.

Customers often tell us that having these cards makes a difference to how clients see them. A clear, consistent card handed over at the end of a job or during a visit leaves a better impression than just a verbal introduction. The cards are clear and consistent, and show that attention has been paid to the details. Ordering is simple, and they start from £6.99 per card, so it is an easy way to make your team appear more established right from the beginning.

Custom ID cards

When pre-designed cards are not quite the right fit – perhaps because you want your own logo included or a specific layout – we can create fully custom ones instead.

We start with your logo and any specific requirements you have, then design the card around that. This means the finished cards sit naturally alongside your existing business cards, website, or van signage. There is no charge for the design process itself.

You can decide on the details that matter to you:

Whether the card is printed on one side or both (a second side is useful for extra information or terms)
Full colour throughout, black and white only, or a combination (colour on the front for impact, monochrome on the back to keep costs down)
Whether to add barcodes, QR codes (perhaps linking to your website or contact details), or vCards for easy saving to phones

We also produce other types of cards using the same approach, including:

Membership cards for clubs or associations
Visitor passes for offices or sites
Training or qualification cards that staff carry as proof
Medical or health-related cards where identification is important

The process we follow is straightforward. You send us your logo and the details you want included. We prepare a first proof and share it with you by email. We then make any changes you ask for until the design is exactly as you want it – there is no limit on reasonable revisions. Once you are happy, we print on durable plastic that lasts in everyday use, whether the cards are carried in wallets, clipped to lanyards, or kept in vehicles.

Prices for custom cards depend on the specification and the quantity you need, so just email us and we can give you a clear figure based on what you have in mind.

This way the cards match the rest of your branding and do whatever job you need them to do, from simple identification to more specific functions.

The materials we use

All of our cards are made from biodegradable plastic. These are blank white biodegradable plastic cards made from PVC resin that has been treated to become 100% biodegradable. Under normal conditions, they work exactly like standard cards – you can carry them, clip them, or use them daily without noticing any difference. But when they end up in a fertile environment, like soil, the breakdown process starts and completes in 1 to 5 years.

The cards are standard CR80 credit card size, which is 85.60 x 53.98mm, with a thickness of 760 microns (or 30 mils). This makes them the usual size and feel that people expect from an ID card.

We chose this material because it performs well in printing and use, while being a step towards reducing long-term waste. It fits with how many businesses think about their environmental impact these days, without changing how the cards function.

How we print the cards

All of our cards are printed using retransfer printers. This method produces high-quality results, particularly for plastic cards like the biodegradable ones we use. It allows for detailed images, smooth colour blending, and full coverage right to the edges.

The retransfer printing process works in two stages. First, we print the design onto a clear film using dye sublimation. This film captures the full-colour image, including photos, text, barcodes, logos, or any other elements. Then, we fuse this film onto the plastic card using heat and pressure. The film acts as a carrier, so the printhead never touches the card directly, which helps achieve a smooth application.

One advantage is the finish: the print comes out clean and sharp, without lines or smudges. It also means we can print edge-to-edge, avoiding any white borders that might show up with other methods. This is useful for cards with full backgrounds or large photos.

Retransfer printing handles different card surfaces well. Unlike direct-to-card printing, which can have issues with uneven materials, this process gives consistent results. The final film layer adds some protection against scratches and fading during regular use.

This method works particularly well with our biodegradable plastic. The materials are compatible, and the print stays in place without peeling or rubbing off over time.

We use retransfer printing because it balances quality and reliability. The process is efficient, which lets us turn around orders quickly. Everything is done in-house with our own equipment, and we check every order for colour and print quality before sending it out.

Our business website for customers

One thing we provide that many customers find particularly useful is free access to your own section on our business website.

We set this up once your card design has been approved. From that point on, you have a private area where you can handle everything yourself:

Upload new photos whenever you need a card for someone new
Add or update names, email addresses, phone numbers, and other details
Personalise each card individually and see exactly how it will look before confirming
Order the cards directly once you are satisfied with the preview

You can do all of this whenever it suits you, without needing to email anything back and forth.

This works especially well for businesses where staff change regularly – perhaps you take on seasonal workers, have contractors coming and going, or simply grow steadily and add people over time. Instead of contacting us every time someone joins or a detail changes, you manage it yourself in your own time and only order when everything looks right.

Customers have told us it saves them a considerable amount of time, particularly when managing cards for larger teams or when people join or leave frequently. It also means there are no mistakes from misread information, because you see each card as you create it. There is no extra charge for this – it is simply part of working with us, because we know how important it is to keep things moving.

How ordering works

We keep the ordering process as simple as we can. Here is how it breaks down:

No minimum order You can order just one card for a new starter or hundreds for a whole team – whatever you need at the time.
Ordering pre-designed cards You choose the style on the main website, upload the photos and details yourself, check each preview to make sure everything looks right, and place the order when you are ready.
Ordering custom cards We first work through the proof stage by email until the design is exactly as you want it. Once the design is approved, we set up your business website section so you can handle all personalisation and future ordering from there yourself.
Printing and dispatch Once any order is confirmed (whether pre-designed or custom), we print and dispatch within 24 hours. That means the cards usually reach you quickly, often within a couple of days in total.
Postage options We use Royal Mail for delivery. Postage starts from as little as 99p for standard delivery or £3.25 for tracked, depending on the size of your order and what you prefer.
Questions or help If you have questions at any stage – whether about layout, what information to include, quantities, pricing, or anything else – you can email us. We are here to help, whether you are placing a first order, reordering, or managing something ongoing.

Common questions

Here are some of the questions people often ask us before ordering:

Do I need to order a minimum number of cards?

No, there is no minimum. You can order one card if that is all you need right now, or as many as you like.

How long do the cards take to arrive?

We aim to print and dispatch within 24 hours of your order being confirmed Monday - Friday. Delivery is then by Royal Mail, you get to decide which delivery option you get, we offer various options at the checkout starting from 99p for small orders.

Can I order just one card for a new starter?

Yes, absolutely. Many customers do exactly that through their business website section.

What file format should photos be?

We accept JPG or PNG files. We recommend a clear head-and-shoulders photo for the best result.

Are the cards double-sided?

We offer both single-sided and double-sided cards. Pre-designed cards are usually single-sided, while custom cards can be either – you choose what works best for you.

If your question is not covered here, just email us and we will get back to you quickly.

Get in touch

Ready to give your team a more professional look and smoother day-to-day operations? Order pre-designed cards directly online today starting from £6.99, or email theteam@thecardproject.uk for a free custom design quote. We're here to make it simple and get your cards to you fast.

All prices and services shown are correct as of December 2025.