Catering is a very loose term these days – one which can encompass the most diverse range of food and beverage offerings. Large multinational catering organisations such as Sodexho or Compass deliver every type of catering solution to every level of that enormous spectrum, from school, college and educational establishment, to hospitals and care homes, or luxury corporate catering at prestige events.

Of course, in essence, wherever there are people there has to be food, and delivering what people need, at all times, and at all places, is a logistical and operational skill that the very best catering company will do well to manage!

Catering consultants too have their work cut out for them. They are tasked with finding the right catering solutions for their clients, in the right spaces and at the right times. Perhaps they are briefed with delivering top class meals to foreign dignitaries at political and social events, or possibly looking after the top corporate clients of blue chip companies with huge corporate entertaining budgets.

There are literally thousands of catering companies in the UK, some of whom perhaps just deliver sandwiches to local offices and small companies, others who cater for private birthday parties and BBQs, and then the large global companies who specialize in catering and facilities management as a whole.

At the very top end of the quality spectrum though are the catering companies who deliver top end events and corporate catering. Catering companies such as Urban Caprice, Rocket, Moving Venue and "rhubarb", whose menu design, décor, food styling and drinks lists make them much more than a caterer - more a food and beverage lifestyle company. Adept at wedding catering, canapé reception catering, huge gala dinners and luxury lunches, these catering companies are the cream of the catering crop. They often employ menu consultants to make sure each and every item on the menu is on trend, made from the very best produce, and perfectly put together. Then there are canapé creatives, whose job it is to design and dream up superbly innovative ways of serving miniature dishes – on mother of pearl spoons or in tiny margarita glasses. Then don’t forget the in house sommeliers and mixologists – creating perfect winelists, cocktail lists and champagne bars. Or design managers who ensure each dish is perfectly presented, on the right colour linen, by the most beautifully tailored uniformed staff, and in the most wonderfully decorated venues.

This kind of catering is an art form in fact, and one that clients pay a great deal of money for – of course, corporate clients have that money though. Their corporate entertainment budgets are often enormous and they are charged with keeping their most important clients well fed and happy. Their business may even depend on it!

Catering consultants often have links with these kinds of catering companies, utilising their expertise to plan parties for global blue chip organisations or to consult on catering for big worldwide events such as the London 2012 Olympics.

Author Bio: Sara Allom looks at the huge variety of catering companies in the UK today and how catering consultants are tasked with finding the right catering solutions for their clients.