Organising a successful Christmas party or end-of-year event which people remember for all the right reasons is one of those regular tasks which can quickly seem like a poisoned chalice.

After all, it could be the one opportunity when people who spend the rest of the year working far away from each other, possibly communicating most often by email or phone, are brought together and are hoping that their company will give them an event which represents a fitting ‘thank-you’ for a whole year’s dedication.

So – if you’re the person in charge of trying to pull this off successfully – no pressure.

At least there shouldn’t be if you follow our six-point plan as used by plenty of regular event organisers. So let’s start with some basics:

1. Set the date: As Christmas nears, people’s calendars very quickly start to fill up, as they try to prepare for some well- deserved rest which, if they’re lucky, might stretch beyond the holiday itself and into the new year.

So to ensure a good turnout, consult the calendar as early as January, so you know which are likely to be the favourite party dates. You can then perhaps present people with a number of options, and try to get general agreement on a favourite.

2. Fix your budget: Even in a small and medium-sized business, employees may expect their bosses to push the boat out a little at the end of the year. So be honest with them, and remember that the most important people to please aren’t the directors or senior managers, but the less lauded but nonetheless important staff members who don’t usually get to mix informally with senior colleagues outside work.

3. Secure your venue: It’s a time when every restaurant, bar and other venue is banking on helping see it through quieter times, so they should be keen to attract business with all manner of party packages. Again, early booking gives you the choice of the best dates. Consult with the event organisers at your chosen venue, and be sure to note what’s included in your package, and what you might need to source elsewhere – such as entertainment equipment, a public address system or karaoke, and any festive decorations.

4. Satisfy people with the food: It can be the strictly traditional turkey – for a lunchtime or evening ‘do’ – or something different; but you have to make sure there’s something to suit everyone who’s likely to be there. The menu and quality of the food in themselves are often deal-clinchers when it comes to finding the right place for a successful event, and you must make sure everyone knows what to expect, whether it’s a three-course (or more!) sit-down affair, or an informal gathering with a buffet.

5. See No. 4, but also with the drinks: This will be the lubricant which will help everything flow well on the night. Consider whether you’ll foot the bill for colleagues’ drinks all night, or can only, say, meet the cost of everyone’s first drink or so – and be sure everyone knows the ground rules beforehand.

6. Get the right music/entertainment: DJs, bands and entertainers are also in heavy demand in the run-up to Christmas, so if you have particular preferences, you’ll need to move quickly to secure them. Quirky games and party pieces are also becoming an increasingly popular element of festive events. But beware – get over-ambitious and you might soon find your budget runs away with itself.

One factor you should have in your favour is that most people will be keen to enjoy themselves. So whether you’re planning for six people, 60 or 600, get as many of them as you can on your side – but don’t be afraid to ask for help. The advertisers on these pages are experienced in helping stage memorable events, and will be happy to provide you with any more information you need.

Just remember, don’t leave it too late!