Custom Workwear for Construction and Trades: What a 30-Person Team Actually Needs on Day One

Day-one construction workwear kit laid out in a workshop

For a 30-person construction or trades team, your day-one construction uniform should cover daily basics, cold-weather layering, site visibility and easy replacement. A practical starting point is two branded polos or work T-shirts, one sweatshirt or hoodie, one fleece or softshell, two pairs of trousers, hi-vis protection and one warm hat per person, adjusted for each role.

You don’t need a complicated uniform programme to get started. Choose a small range of durable core garments, confirm sizes with samples, approve a free digital mock-up and place one managed order.

The Day-One Kit List

The right kit depends on what each person does. A site operative needs hard-wearing daily workwear. A supervisor may need more smart-looking layers for client meetings and site visits. Drivers, engineers and office-based staff may need fewer hi-vis items.

Here’s a sensible starting point for a 30-person team.

Site Operatives: 24 People

Per person:

  • 2 × polos or work T-shirts for daily rotation
  • 1 × sweatshirt or hoodie for cooler indoor and outdoor work
  • 1 × fleece or softshell jacket for winter layering
  • 2 × work trousers in the correct waist and leg length
  • 1 × hi-vis vest or jacket, selected for the site requirements
  • 1 × cap or beanie for sun, cold mornings or general site use

That means your initial order could include:

  • 48 polos or work T-shirts
  • 24 sweatshirts or hoodies
  • 24 fleeces or softshells
  • 48 pairs of trousers
  • 24 hi-vis garments
  • 24 caps or beanies

Two tops and two pairs of trousers give staff a practical change while garments are being washed. You can then keep a small number of spare common sizes for new starters and urgent replacements.

Browse our custom polo shirts, fleeces, jackets and hoodies when building your shortlist.

Supervisors and Working Foremen: 4 People

Supervisors often move between site, vehicles, clients and the office. Give them the same core identity, with a slightly broader layer choice.

Per person:

  • 3 × embroidered polos or work T-shirts
  • 1 × sweatshirt or hoodie
  • 1 × softshell or fleece
  • 2 × work trousers or smart cargo trousers
  • 1 × hi-vis jacket or vest
  • 1 × cap or beanie

A softshell jacket with a neat embroidered logo can look more polished than a basic outer layer while still working on site. If supervisors meet clients or visit multiple locations, consider adding a waterproof jacket to the seasonal plan.

Drivers, Engineers, Visitors and Office Staff: 2 People

These team members may spend less time on active sites, but they still need to look part of the business.

Per person:

  • 2 × polos or work T-shirts
  • 1 × sweatshirt or hoodie
  • 1 × fleece or softshell
  • 1 × pair of trousers
  • 1 × hi-vis vest or jacket, where site access requires it
  • 1 × cap or beanie

Keep the colours, logo placement and garment styles consistent across all three groups. The result is a professional construction uniform that works for site teams, customer visits and new locations.

Branded embroidered polo and jacket being prepared in a Birmingham-style workshop

Build Your Size List Before You Order

Sizing is where many first uniform orders become difficult. Don’t guess from job titles or assume one fit will suit everyone.

Start with a simple size-collection sheet covering:

  • Chest size
  • Waist size
  • Inside leg
  • Preferred fit
  • Men’s or women’s fit
  • Polo or T-shirt size
  • Sweatshirt or hoodie size
  • Jacket size
  • Hi-vis size
  • Hat size, if required

Offer a mix of men’s and women’s fits where available. Include larger sizes from the start rather than treating them as special requests. Some workwear ranges extend to 8XL, but the exact size range varies by garment.

Before ordering the full run:

  1. Choose two or three likely garment styles.
  2. Order or request samples in common and less common sizes.
  3. Ask team members to try them over a T-shirt or base layer.
  4. Check sleeve length, movement, waist comfort and room for winter layers.
  5. Record the agreed size against each employee.

A sample check is especially important in October. A jacket that fits over a polo may not fit comfortably over a sweatshirt and fleece.

Choose Decoration That Works on Site

The best decoration method depends on the garment, the logo and how the item will be used.

Embroidery for Polos, Fleeces and Jackets

Custom embroidered workwear gives your logo a strong, professional finish. It’s particularly suitable for:

  • Polos
  • Sweatshirts
  • Fleeces
  • Softshell jackets
  • Work jackets
  • Caps and beanies

We complete all embroidery in-house at our Birmingham workshop. This gives us direct control over placement, thread colour and quality checks.

Embroidery digitising is free on orders over £100. Below £100, there’s a one-off £15 digitising fee.

Heat Transfer for Names, Numbers and Hi-Vis

Heat transfer printing is useful when you need:

  • Employee names
  • Job titles
  • Team numbers
  • Large back prints
  • Individual identification
  • Branding on selected hi-vis garments

It’s a practical option for personalised workwear UK teams need to identify quickly, especially when several trades or departments work together.

DTF for Detailed Logos and Performance Fabrics

DTF printing works well for full-colour logos, fine detail and performance fabrics. It’s useful for lightweight work T-shirts, sports-style tops and garments where embroidery may feel too heavy.

DTF is the only decoration method we offer with no setup fee.

We’ll check your artwork and provide a free digital mock-up before production, so you can see the logo size, colours and placement before approving the order.

Keep Hi-Vis Compliant

Hi-vis should be selected according to your site rules, risk assessment and the work being carried out. If your team needs certified visibility clothing, buy garments compliant with EN ISO 20471 and make sure the branding keeps them compliant.

The most important rule is simple:

Never cover reflective tape with a logo, name or print.

Logos should be positioned in a permitted area that doesn’t cover reflective strips or reduce the visible fluorescent and reflective material. We’ll advise on suitable placement, but the garment must still be used according to its certification and care instructions.

Construction operative wearing a branded hi-vis vest with reflective tape kept clear

Plan for October and Colder Mornings

October is the point when a T-shirt-only uniform starts to fall short. Early starts are colder, weather changes quickly and staff may move between heated vehicles, indoor work and exposed sites.

Build your first order around layers:

  • Base layer: polo or work T-shirt
  • Mid-layer: sweatshirt, hoodie or fleece
  • Outer layer: softshell, waterproof or suitable hi-vis jacket

Fleeces are warm without being too bulky. Softshells provide a smart outer layer and help protect against wind. A hoodie can be useful for general workwear, but check whether the hood is suitable for the tasks and PPE requirements on your sites.

Keep the core garments in dependable colours such as black, navy, grey or your established company colours. Avoid seasonal fashion colours for essential items. When you reorder six months later, matching colours and styles will be easier.

That consistency matters. A new starter should look like part of the same team, not like they’ve received a different uniform from a different business.

Manage the First Rollout Properly

A managed first rollout removes most of the usual hassle. We’ll help you confirm the garment list, collect sizes, check the artwork, prepare the mock-up and organise the production order.

There’s no minimum order quantity, so you can include a small number of staff, test a style or add a replacement without creating unnecessary stock.

Our standard lead time is 7–10 working days from artwork approval. An express service is available when your site opening or team start date is closer.

For reorders, don’t wait until the last polo has disappeared. Keep a record of:

  • Approved garment styles
  • Logo file and decoration method
  • Sizes issued to each employee
  • Common spare sizes
  • Hi-vis requirements
  • Site or department differences

If you’re opening new sites or regularly taking on staff, a company store can make reordering much easier. Staff can order approved garments and sizes from one controlled range, while managers keep the branding and product choices consistent.

Managed company uniform ordering with a size matrix and approved garments

Lead Time, Delivery and Reordering Advice

Allow at least two to three weeks from your first conversation to everyone wearing the kit. That gives you time to collect accurate sizes, compare samples, approve the artwork and allow for production and delivery.

The decoration stage itself is normally 7–10 working days from artwork approval. Build in extra time if:

  • You need samples
  • Your logo needs changes
  • Several fits or garment types are involved
  • You’re opening a new site
  • Staff are joining at different times
  • You need individual names or numbers

We deliver UK-wide, or you can collect from our Birmingham workshop. We’ve been supplying and decorating workwear for 25+ years, with embroidery and printing completed under one roof. We also offer a price beat guarantee on like-for-like orders.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many branded garments does each person really need?

For a first order, two polos or work T-shirts, one warm mid-layer, one fleece or softshell and two pairs of trousers is a practical starting point. Add hi-vis and headwear according to the role and site requirements.

Should we choose embroidery or printing?

Use embroidery for logos on polos, fleeces and jackets. Use heat transfer for names, numbers and suitable hi-vis garments. Choose DTF for detailed, full-colour designs and performance fabrics.

Can we order fewer than 30 kits?

Yes. There’s no minimum order quantity, so you can order for one person, a small department or the whole team.

How long does custom workwear take?

Our standard lead time is 7–10 working days from artwork approval. Express service is available if you have a tighter deadline.

Can we see the logo before production?

Yes. We provide free artwork checks and free digital mock-ups before production, so you can approve the appearance and placement first.

Can you help us manage staff turnover?

Yes. A managed rollout, accurate size list and company store make it easier to kit out new starters, replace worn garments and support new sites without changing the approved uniform.

See Your Kit Before You Order

Send us your logo for a free workwear mock-up, and if you want, we’ll send you a size-collection sheet to fill in. You’ll see how your branding looks on the garments before you spend anything.

When you’re ready, request your custom workwear quote. We’ll help you choose the right garments, decoration method and quantities for your team.