POPCORN was the theme of the week for Hatfield students who learned how to get a product onto supermarket shelves.

Twelve businesses from around Hertfordshire helped Bishop’s Hatfield Girls’ School pupils manufacture, package and promote the cinema favourite.

The 14th annual two-day Insight into Industry conference saw companies including Tesco, Veolia, Royal Mail and GlaxoSmithKline, teach the students about quality control, webpage design and product development.

As part of the fun and games the youngsters, aged 13 and 14, were also invited to make, flavour and colour the popcorn.

Sally Fullerton, at the Woods Avenue school, told the Welwyn Hatfield Times the year 9 pupils gained a real insight into the world of work.

“Over the course of the two days pupils took part in six different activities and each activity presented different problems and challenges,” she said.

“The conference theme was popcorn and a very popular activity was the making, flavouring and colouring of this product.

“Feedback from pupils and advisors was resoundingly positive, a really worthwhile event enjoyed by all.”