UK · Guide
How to hand in your notice in the UK (with template)
Resigning in the UK is straightforward in principle — a short written letter, served on your employer with the correct notice period — but the details matter. This guide walks through what to do before, during and after you hand in your notice, with concrete templates and links to the official ACAS guidance throughout.
Before you write the letter
Read your employment contract first. Your contractual notice period is the most important number here: in the UK, the statutory minimum is one week after the first month of continuous service (Employment Rights Act 1996, s.86), but most contracts specify longer — typically one to three months for mid-level roles and three to six months for senior positions.
Calculate your last working day based on that period. Holiday and sick leave do not pause the notice clock in the UK, unlike Italy or some other EU countries. Plan your handover dates accordingly.
If your situation is anything other than a clean voluntary resignation — for example you feel forced out due to your employer's conduct — pause and speak to ACAS on 0300 123 1100 before handing the letter in. That may be constructive dismissal and the legal framework and remedies are different.
- Check your contract for the notice period.
- Pick a clean last-working-day date.
- If anything feels coerced, talk to ACAS first.
What to put in the letter
A UK resignation letter does not need to be long. The ACAS template — which we follow in our generator — fits comfortably on a single page and contains five things: who is leaving (your name and job title), the company name, the date the letter is written, the last working day, and a brief sign-off.
Two optional but useful additions: a sentence requesting written confirmation of accrued holiday pay due at the end of employment, and a short thank-you paragraph that signals you are leaving on good terms. Both make the handover smoother and create a paper record you may want later for references.
- Top of the letter: your full name and (optionally) your address.
- Date the letter on the day you actually deliver it.
- Address it to your line manager by name if possible, otherwise "Dear Sir/Madam".
- State the resignation clearly: position, employer, last working day.
- Mention your contractual notice period if you want it on record.
- Optional: holiday-pay confirmation request and a brief thank-you.
- Sign off "Yours sincerely" if addressed by name, "Yours faithfully" otherwise.
How to deliver it
Email is legally valid in the UK and is the most common delivery method today. Send the PDF to your line manager with HR copied, and write a short covering line. Keep the sent email — it is your record of when notice was given.
For senior roles, larger employers, or any situation where you want a stronger paper trail, hand a signed printed copy to your manager and ask them to sign and date a second copy as receipt. That receipt is the equivalent of a recorded-delivery acknowledgement.
Recorded-delivery post is the third option and the most defensive: send to the company's registered address with proof of posting. Keep the receipt.
After you hand it in
Expect your employer to respond within a few days with confirmation of the last working day and details around handover, garden leave, or payment in lieu of notice (PILON). If PILON or garden leave is offered, request the offer in writing before agreeing — the financial implications differ.
Use the notice period for a genuine handover: a written handover document covering your active projects, contacts and pending decisions is appreciated and protects your reputation for future references.
On your last day, request your reference policy in writing, return any company property, and confirm in writing that your last working day is the agreed date.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to give a reason in the letter?
No. ACAS guidance — and our template — keeps the letter brief and professional. Reasons can be discussed in an exit interview if you want to.
What is PILON?
Payment in Lieu of Notice — your employer pays your notice-period salary up front and you stop working immediately. It must be offered (or be contractually allowed); you cannot unilaterally demand it.
Can my employer reject my resignation?
No. You only need to give the required notice — the employer cannot block your resignation. They can negotiate the end date with you, but the legal effect of a written notice on the correct period is automatic.
Generate your UK resignation letter
Our PDF follows the ACAS template, includes delivery guidance and a confirmation request for accrued holiday pay. Takes under a minute.