Laravel 5 Same value for each input - input

Question

Hello and here is my problem.
I have a hidden field on my form for registering candidates that supplies a purchase_order_number to a candidate; this is generated using $purchase_order_number = Str::quickRandom(7); in the create view.
I will hopefully use this to group candidates later on.
As more than one candidate can be registered at once, I would like the value of this hidden field to be input for each candidate. I have tried several things but with no success.
Here is the controller for my create view:
public function centreQualification($id)
{
$centre = Centre::with('sites')->find($id);
$purchase_order_number = Str::quickRandom(7);
return view('vault.create', compact('centre','purchase_order_number'));
}
And here is the view itself:
#extends('app')
#section('content')
<h1>Register New Candidates</h1>
<hr/>
{!! Form::open(['url' => 'candidates', 'name' => 'candidate_registration_form', 'id' => 'candidate_registration_form'] ) !!}
{!! Form::label('qualification_id','Qualification:') !!}
<select name="qualification_id" class="form-control">
#foreach($centre->qualification as $qualification)
<option value="{{ $qualification->id }}">{{ $qualification->title }}</option>
#endforeach
</select>
<input type="text" name="purchase_order_number" id="purchase_order_number" value="{{ $purchase_order_number }}" />
<hr/>
#include ('errors.list')
#include ('vault.form')
{!! Form::close() !!}
#stop
Now when I store (create) a new candidate I have this controller function:
public function store(CandidateRequest $request)
{
$candidateInput = Input::get('candidates');
foreach ($candidateInput as $candidate)
{
$candidate = Candidate::create($candidate);
}
return redirect('candidates');
}
Is there any way to attach this $purchase_order_number to each candidate?

Answer 1

<input type="hidden"
name="purchase_order_number"
id="purchase_order_number"
value="{{ $purchase_order_number }}" />
This creates a hidden field with the purchase_order_number.
In your store() method, get it using
$request->input('purchase_order_number');