16/02/2012 Look East - East

In Look East tonight... More than 2.6 million people are unemployed.

So why does this engineering company need to recruit staff from

Australia? Hello and welcome to the programme.

Also tonight.... The latest on the CCTV car. Their

pictures. Your stories. What happens when this bridge

breaks down? And should the council take over the maintenance?

And the latest of our Olympic First tonight, the engineering

company with plenty of contracts, but precious few local youngsters

able to make the grade. They call it the skills gap. Figures released

this week show that unemployment in this region went up last month by

3,000 to 213,000. But that doesn't mean there aren't any jobs. Very

often, the problem is finding the right person with the right

qualifications. For one company in Cambridgeshire, the situation is so

bad, it is recruiting from the other side of the world.

Z-Tech is exactly the sort of company the government would like

to encourage. It provides electronic detection systems for

companies like Anglian Water and the London Underground. This

company is now reliant on Aussies and Kiwis. They are very highly

trained, walking straight into a job with us we are so short of

their skills. They are very well trained back home with their

traditional engineering apprenticeships, which we seem to

struggle to offer these days. workers are only here on temporary

visas. For the most part, they are funding travels around Europe. But

the vocational courses they have completed at home make them highly

employable here. I did an apprenticeship for about 3.5 years.

That covers everything, from basic domestic wiring to industrial

controls. I was worried when I came over and heard about unemployment.

The more people you speak to, you were told about it being difficult

to get hard-working people. company says the problem is two

fault, colleges not offering be courses needed, or students are

interested in taking them if the courses are there. It is difficult

convincing that this is a valued Korea, not the soft option, we need

highly educated people to do this sort of job for us. As it it

believes colleges are not offering the skills needed, they are

investing in their own training programmes. It offers a worthwhile

alternative to a degree. You can do this and are able to get the skills

and qualifications that gets you a decent salary without having the

debt you would have at university. Their working visas or only valid

for up to two years. But once the habit -- but once they have expired,

these people will call back down and are taking their skills with

them. Let's speak to Stephanie Fernandes

from the Institution of Engineering and Technology. She's at their HQ

in Stevenage. This is a worrying situation. This does not speak well

for the economy. It is very worrying. We are experiencing a

shortage of engineers. It will have a negative impact on the UK economy.

We will not be able to invest in cutting carbon issues or

rebalancing the economy towards manufacturing or technology-based

sectors. Is this a problem with their education or people not

wanting to go into engineering? again, part of the problem lies

within the education system. Ourl skills survey shows that almost

half of employers say that graduates do not meet their skills

requirements, especially in the areas of literacy, numeracy,

expertise and practical skills. There needs to be much more

provision for young people to equip them with crucial technical and

practical skills. Be it through academically or more vocational

types of learning. That could be apprenticeships, which are very

successful in equipping young people with the key skills and

making them much more employable. I think we need to address

perception... I am sorry, we have Adderley, sorry to interrupt. Do

you think there is an MLA -- do you think there is an image problem

with engineers? I think so. We need to promote the benefits of going

into a science or engineering based job. The skills survey shows more

and more employers are looking to recruit graduates from Europe who

have much more positive outlooks on science and engineering based jobs.

We have to do more in this country to turn that balance around. Thank

you very much. And we were only able to run that

story because Z-Tech sent us an email. If you've got a story, don't

forget to get in touch in the usual ways.

Let's stay with jobs, because Tesco has found itself at the centre of a

row today after it appeared to offer a permanent job which only

paid expenses. The company is taking part in a government scheme

designed to give unemployed people work experience. Tesco says calling

it permanent was a simple mistake. Our chief reporter Kim Riley has

been looking at the government scheme and finding out if it really

does help people find a paid job. Tesco appeared to offer permanent

nights -- night shift to a permanent job seeker. And they

would continue to receive Jobseeker's Allowance, but not earn

a wage. Tesco said the permanent work on its now removed

advertisement was a mistake caused by job seeker plus. Many large

retailers signed up to the Government schemes. But

Waterstone's pulled out, and Sainsbury said it will only take

part in future voluntary schemes. This man has been sent on two

placements. It does not help me. I do not see why that is a

requirement to still be able to receive your Jobseeker's Allowance.

It does not help me. But most people approve of the scheme.

you are doing something, even if not getting paid, that is more

sustainable than giving people money to do nothing. If you are

unemployed and having trouble getting back into the industry, at

least it helps. It is a way of getting experience and that could

set you up for a possible interviewed. The Government is

defending a case lodged in the High Court saying the scheme is a breach

human rights legislation on forced Labour. Nick Clegg visited

Cambridgeshire last month as youth unemployment hit 80,000,

championing the expansion of apprenticeships and work-experience.

For its part, Tesco told me that kind of nature of work it was

advertising comes with a guaranteed job interview at the end. -- kind

of night shift work. It said that many of the people on these

placements had been given jobs. It emphasised that, while on work

experience, they were not a substitute or replacement for

Tesco's full-time staff. A council has insisted that it has

improved standards following the death of a one-month-old baby in

Southend. Baby Robert was born in 2009. His mother had a history of

drink and mental health issues. But it has emerged that several

agencies failed to refer her for help. Earlier tonight, I spoke to

Chris Doorly from Southend's Safeguarding Children Board and

asked how it was allowed to happen. It is it always very difficult. One

of the issues in this situation was that we discover that people were

not checking back on records enough, something we have put a lot of work

into improving and correcting. It is difficult, because you are only

seeing what you see on that day. And that sheering off historic

information is very important in identifying risk and vulnerability.

-- and that sheering off historic information. A lot of work was done

in the area of improving access to young mothers and single homes

parents to housing, because this woman was homeless. You talk about

that day. Surely visitors would have seen that woman was almost?

Yes. And work was done to help with the issue of housing. But during

this review and as a result of it, a lot of work has been done to try

and strengthen and develop that. has been said that the Baby Peter

case contributed, leading to an increase in workload. Surely the

death of one child should help prevent the death of a second?

After the death of Baby Peter and be a mite of publicity, there were

many more referrals to children and social care services, because of a

heightened awareness of concern about children. To go back to be

the Robert, he died of Infant Death Syndrome. It highlighted council

services should have done more. There were feelings to work to

guidelines, poor record-keeping. It has been two years since the

Serious Case Review. Can people be confident in the agencies for

safeguarding children? You cannot be complacent. We keep these things

under constant scrutiny and work very hard to see that, when risks

and identified, we keep them under scrutiny and continue to see them

improve. That has been proven to be the case in Southend. Thank you for

joining us. Thank you. Later in the programme The coach at

Northampton Saints rules himself out of the England job. And your

stories after our reports last The rides at a funfair in King's

Lynn were closed to customers a short time ago in tribute to a

three-year-old boy who died after an accident nearby. The accident

happened on King Street at 5.30 yesterday afternoon. The boy died

later in hospital. All morning people came to lay

flowers in the boy's memory. Some clearly knew him. Others did not,

but just wanted to pay their respects. The accident happened

outside his restaurant close to the King's Lynn market, where the chief

steward told me stall holders and ride operators wanted the place to

fall silent for five minutes tonight as a mark of respect.

rights will be on, but no customers served or any music playing. -- the

rides. Our heart and soul go out to this family. It was closed for a

Park last night as police continued an investigation. At her mac was

taken away. There was a petition for the road to be closed during

the market. But it is said it is too early to make that decision.

put in a lot of planning every year with organisers. Many different

groups. And we review safety plans, check safety plans. What is the

best solution? What we need is the advice from the police when

everyone is certain as to exactly what happened. This is a busy part

of town and one woman, who did not want to be interviewed, said the

small roundabout near where the accident took place is dangerous

for pedestrians. Police are appealing for any witnesses to

contact them. Former Energy Secretary, Chris

Huhne, made his first appearance at court today accused of perverting

the course of justice. He's alleged to have asked his ex-wife Vicky

Pryce to take penalty points for a speeding offence in Essex nine

years ago. The case has been adjourned until March 2nd.

Another review has been ordered into the conviction of a man found

guilty of murder. Simon Hall from Ipswich was jailed for life in 2003

for stabbing Joan Albert at her home in Capel St Mary. He's always

maintained his innocence. A previous appeal was rejected. Now

the Criminal Cases Review Commission has agreed to re-examine

the case. Suffolk County Council wants to

take over the management of a bridge which has been closed for

maintenance 151 times in the past five years. The Bascule Bridge in

Lowestoft is a bottleneck for traffic. At the moment, it's

managed by the Highways Agency. But the council believes it can do a

better job. If you ask people in Lowestoft, what they think, they do

not hold back. Absolutely horrendous. It is a pain in the

neck. Today. A modest half of mile or so

of queues. This is the bridge when raised. When it breaks down, as it

did recently. It cuts the town in two causing gridlock. We saw a huge

foot fall because the bridge was closed. From the air, the critical

role the bridge plays is all too clear. In 2008, the Highways Agency

spent over �2 million trying to improve reliability. But BBC Radio

Suffolk has found, over the past five years, the bridge has been

forced to close 151 times. That was mainly overnight, but also 11 times

during the day. Now the county council has had enough. It wants to

take over management from the Highways Agency. Ownership would

remain with central Government, but we would be grossly it about

repairs. We would work out a scheme of improvements. -- we would talk

about repairs. The Highways Agency says it tries to keep closures to a

minimum. It points out the bridge is complex and needs regular

maintenance. But the patience of businesses and many others over

this ageing bridge is now wearing Councils in Essex have welcomed a

deal that will keep the Coryton oil refinery open for the next three

months. Essex County Council and Thurrock Council both say the

arrangement is good news, but that they're committed to securing its

long-term future. The refinery has been under threat since its owners

Petroplus went into administration, with up to 1,000 jobs at risk. The

councils say they've been working closely with the administrators and

the government and will Continued to do so.

A mother from Essex fears she may not be able to attend the trial of

the men accused of killing her son, because she can't afford to travel

to Germany. An MP is now campaigning for more help for

people like Marie Heath. Marie Heath lights a candle on the

urn that holds the ashes of her son Lee. I do not suppose we will move

on, we will always miss him, he was a big part of the family. Lee Heath

lived and worked in Germany. Last year, bouncers beat him up outside

a club in Frankfurt. He died. Mrs Heath has letters from the court

saying the bouncers' lengthy trial will start next month. She says she

couldn't live with herself if she doesn't travel to Germany to see

the men accused of killing her son face justice. I know it is a lot of

money. We are looking at over 60 flights to go out for the trial

once a week. We need some help to get there. Her MP, Priti Patel,

says that help should come from the Government. These families are left

on their own to fight their corner. When you see the amount of support

given to criminals, whether in terms of education or whatever

support, it is there for them. Under victims of crime are

constantly forgotten about. We need to rebalance the justice system.

group called support After murder or manslaughter of Broad said it is

Marie Heath says she is determined to get to Germany for the trial and

More now on the controversy surrounding the new CCTV cars

introduced to combat illegal parking on the streets of

Bedfordshire. As we saw on yesterday's programme, the cars

drive around taking pictures using a camera mounted on the roof. After

the programme, many of you got in touch. They are the New Kids On the

Block, camera cars said to be six times more effective than a traffic

warden, using GPS and technology recognising number plates. It seems

many viewers have been caught out by these yellow cards. We heard

from a pensioner who was ticketed for shopping on that -- for

stopping on the main road when he closed his garage and a wine

merchant done after unloading stock. Now Joan Smith has been in touch

and tells us she, too, has been snapped because she pulled into

drop-off her friend who is also called Joan Smith. We go for lunch

once a week. It gets her out. But that the vehicle taking my vehicle

stopped me pulling out. And I am only a pensioner. Lots of you have

written in. Martin said he is a disabled driver and tells us he

received a ticket from this. But the photograph was taken from the

back, there for failing to notice the Blue Badge on his front

windscreen. And we had a letter from Duncan saying it is

interesting the council can magically find money to run the

services -- run the service Wells cutting services elsewhere. And

David said he thinks these cars are a good idea, stopping pavements

been blocked and grass spoiled by people parking in considerably.

Central Bedfordshire council said checks and balances are in place,

with footage reviewed at the day and those with problems can appeal.

-- reviewed every day. What could you do?

LAUGHTER. I will have to jump out whilst the car is moving. We do

talking before we pull-out and then she is out. She has appealed and

this has not cost her �70. The nimble Joan Smith and her friend

Joan Smith. Thank you to everyone who got in touch.

The Director of Rugby at Northampton Saints, Jim Mallinder,

says he has not applied for the job of England manager. He had been

tipped as one of the leading contenders. But speaking

exclusively to Look East today, he says, for now, he wants to focus on

his club's success. He has transformed the club after

five years at Franklins Gardens. But getting a good players into the

England squad is the achievement that has put him on the

international spotlight. Speculation has been rife as to who

will succeed Martin Johnson. Ford Jim Mallinder, it was a case of

will he or will he. Until today. has to be the right thing at the

right time and right place. At the moment, I am concerned with getting

Northampton to win something and we have a chance this year and that is

what I am focusing on. It is fair to say Rugby is light at

Northampton. So it is not surprising that the coach's

decision not to go for the England job has proven pop, -- popular.

is a good idea. Northampton Saints art in a good position and it is

good for him Tuesday. He is a good man. It is brilliant news. Never

mind England, please stay here. Whilst eyes are on the top job at

Twickenham, Jim Mallinder's eyes are not likely to stray far from

Franklin's Gardens. Stage you, son.

LAUGHTER. -- stay here. Some of the world's greatest

cyclists will be trying out the new Olympic Velodrome when the World

Cup begins there tomorrow. Among them will be our very own Victoria

Pendleton from Bedfordshire. Four years ago, Victoria won two gold

medals in Beijing. London 2012 will be her last games, so she wants to

go out on high. The target this year is three gold medals. This

report is from our Olympic Correspondent Shaun Pe eel.

She has conquered the world, but now it is back to the one she has

had a weird dreams about. I am always being chased, but I think

that is the nature of the profession. I will always want to

move forward or go somewhere. Being chased is a common theme. Victoria

says she is retiring after the Olympic Games, leaving three big

ones, the one or Cup this weekend, World Championships in Australia

and then London. -- World Cup. It is the start of a long goodbye for

a very decorated cyclist. I want to make the most of these last three

races. I am constantly told by my team that I am kidding myself

thinking I can leave. I am told I will miss that after one year. I

will never say never. I do not think it will be sprinting.

Victoria is probably the best I have seen her since Beijing. We are

seeing the real Victoria stepping back up. Her attitudes is brilliant.

There may be 9 million bicycles in Beijing, but only one had Victoria

Pendleton, coming home with two gold medals, coming home to stardom.

But last year, she said she lost her hunger to win. It looks like

she has her more Jo Black right in the nick of time. -- got her mojo

back. I have not felt this good since 2008. It anyone doubted her

motivation, just watch, and wheels are very much for turning.

Those crashes always looked very painful. Prepare yourself for a bit

Mild weather almost to begin with, continuing over night. We are

between two weather fronts. That is because of a ridge of high pressure

bringing westerly winds. The cold front brings colder weather on

Saturday, then mild weather returns next week. The satellite picture

shows some breaks in the cloud bringing some brightness. And some

mild temperatures. And there is much colder weather coming down

from Scotland, holding off from us until Saturday. Some cloud stopping

temperatures falling to low tonight. Temperatures dipping down to about

five Celsius in gaps. Most of us avoiding frost. The cloud will be

Vicar in the North. Temperatures could be as mild as 7 Celsius in

the breeze. -- cloud will be Flecker. A lot more cloud tomorrow.

Generally a lot of cloud. Possibly the colour -- possibly fit enough

for light rain or drizzle. Nevertheless, it will be a mild day.

We above the average of 7 Celsius. That is because of the westerly

wind. During the afternoon, it stays cloudy, thickening up in the

North, with some spots of drizzle. During the night, we could find

further rain as well. Saturday morning, things changing, becoming

much breezier. Mild and the morning, been rain in the afternoon followed

by colder weather. Some brighter weather during the end of the day,

frost during the night and first thing Sunday morning. Then south-

westerly winds back for early next week. That brings the temperatures

back up once more. It will be colder, but not for long. The

heaviest rain on Saturday. Cold and bright on Sunday with frost. Frost

on Monday morning, then breeze picking up. The careful if you are