Once again, the school was lucky enough to visit the Pimpernel factory in Blackhill, Consett.

All the staff there are always extremely welcoming to the pupils, and as such it is always a pleasure to go to visit them.

Steve Pinkerton was the manager who showed us everything there was to see at the factory and made it such an informative visit.

Mrs Brown then went on to discuss how, at Villa Real School, the subject "enterprise" is included in the sixth-form timetable. Pupils were about to start producing drinks coasters as their project.

Steve immediately said that if they could help us in any way they must let him know how.

As a result, they kindly supplied us with some basic board coasters and said we could take them back to Pimpernel in order for them to be sealed on their machines.

We obviously told them that we were not about to go head-to-head in direct competition with them yet! Thanks again Pimpernel for your support.