Planning an important corporate function may seen like a daunting task, but with a high degree of military-style organisation, staff training and a hint of glamour it can be pulled off without hassle.

One of the most vital tasks to fulfil first is the date and venue for your event. Make sure your function doesn't clash with any important local events or even sporting occasions. You'd be surprised at the amount of people that turn down a networking event to watch their favourite football team. Choose a venue that is suitable for the amount of guests you are expecting - it is better to have more space than needed, as guests will not want to feel like sardines. Try to look at a few locations and obtain quotes to compare quality and service with the monetary side of matters. After you have decided on an appropriate venue, make sure your booking request is in writing and that you document correspondence should anything go wrong.

Dress your venue appropriately - everyone likes a stylish event with a core theme that is reflected in the event's design. Avoid strong or ostentatious designs and opt for something classy to reflect your business values.

Before the event, it is prudent to run through proceedings with staff and make sure they will be appropriately dressed to reflect your brand identity. If you don't have staff badges already, contact badge manufacturers to discuss your requirements, as guests will need to be able to differentiate between other guests and your staff. In addition, guests should normally wear badges for networking purposes. A corporate event is about marketing and as such both staff and guest badges should be easy to read, branded and user friendly.

Make sure you send out invites well before the event, but not so far beforehand that guests completely forget - a good time frame is about 4 - 5 weeks. The invites should have a corporate feel and inform the prospective guest of the date, time and venue, as well as a short description about the event and whether dinner will be provided.

On the invitation front, target the right sort of guest. There is no point in inviting everyone on your database if your event is surrounding a specific product or showcase. Target those who have provided you with the most revenue or clients who could bring you more business.

Perhaps one of the most important aspects of a corporate event aside from networking and business opportunities, is the catering. Food should like the event, be friendly and unpretentious. Easy to hold food is paramount, such as canapés, mini rolls and petite deserts. Champagne certainly washes these down quite well too.

Lastly, don't forget to give your guests something to remember the event and thus your company. If you can't afford to provide goody bags, at least send them away with a marketing pack informing them that if there is someone they didn't get the chance to meet, then they can contact you for an introduction. Make sure to thank guests for attending the event and spending valuable time in your company.