A family-run independent
catering business

Geoffrey Harrison, a lifelong food enthusiast, began his culinary career as a professional chef before establishing his own catering business, Harrison Catering Services, in 1994. His hands-on expertise in high-quality food and extensive experience in business operations and development equipped him with the knowledge and skills needed to build a thriving business.

Geoffrey has received widespread recognition in the business, industry, and education sectors, earning multiple awards and accolades. Most recently, he was awarded an Honorary Fellowship from the Chartered Institution for Further Education in 2024, adding to his Honorary Doctorate from the University of West London International Business School in 2012 and fellowships from the International Institute of Hotel Management in 2022 and the City & Guilds of London Institute in 2017. He was also honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award from Food Service Management (FSM) in 2019, a Catering Lifetime Achievement Award at the Cost Sector Catering Awards in 2015, and received a Special Award at the EDUcatering Excellence Awards in 2014, was named Food Service Caterer of the Year at the Catey Awards in 2010, and was a finalist for the Entrepreneur of the Year award at Ernst & Young in 2012.

Harrison Catering will continue to expand with its commitment to providing delicious, healthier catering.

Gareth inherited his father’s devotion to great food and followed that enthusiasm throughout his career. He worked as a commercial chef at some of the most reputable restaurants in Berkshire and Lancashire before joining Harrison Catering Services in 1998.

Since joining us, Gareth’s work has covered much of the Harrison spectrum. He has worked as our Executive Chef, Manager Client Services and Food Development and Procurement Manager. In 2006 both Gareth and his sister, Claire, were appointed to the board, with Gareth taking up the mantle of Director of Group Business. In 2010 he was made Director Client Services until 2012 when he became Joint Managing Director, along with Claire.

Claire is a born manager and, previous to working at Harrison, held several managerial roles in leading business and government organisations. She has a wealth of knowledge and experience in education and the catering industry.

In 1995, just one year after it formed, Claire joined Harrison Catering and has been an integral part of the company ever since, bringing with her valuable experience in management and business. She immediately found herself at home working in education and industry operations and was appointed to the Board and a Directorship in 2006 along with her brother, Gareth. Claire excelled as Sales and Marketing Director until 2012, when she and Gareth became Joint Managing Directors.

Mark acts as the mentor to our talented chefs, establishing and maintaining the exceptionally high standards Harrison deliver daily. When training to become a chef, Mark was tutored by the Roux brothers at Le Gavroche and eventually started cooking for the directors of Shell UK and HSBC. He later became Head Chef at the Industrial Bank of Japan, where he would concoct Michelin-star standard fine dining and Japanese cuisine.

During a stint as Executive Head Chef at the Financial Services Authority, Mark was responsible for the development and management of large-scale catering. This included a food court for over 2,000 employees, 46 meeting rooms and a directors’ kitchen serving eight private dining rooms. We’re very proud to have Mark on our team, bringing with him his outstanding cooking and managerial expertise.

Richard has worked in senior financial positions within several industries. Having started out in the automotive industry, he has also been a key financial figure in both blue chip PLCs and private businesses. He would go on to board-level positions with an automotive components manufacturer and then a medical services business before joining Harrison Catering. He’s been Finance Director of Harrison since 2006 and a key member of the company ever since.

Despite what you might reasonably assume, Richard isn’t related to Geoffrey Harrison and refers to the likeness in their surnames as a ‘happy coincidence’. Either way, he’s a part of the Harrison Catering family now!