:00:10. > :00:13.Good evening. Welcome to the programme. The headlines. Hope for
:00:13. > :00:20.the future - the local companies helping to lift the country out of
:00:20. > :00:25.economic gloom. Small and medium-sized businesses
:00:25. > :00:28.have always been the powerhouse of the British economy.
:00:28. > :00:31.The owner of Hull City reveals he has made a six-figure donation to
:00:31. > :00:38.the Labour Party. Round your way - the route of the
:00:38. > :00:42.Olympic torch relay is revealed, and who will be carrying it.
:00:43. > :00:47.would take it in her stride and love the fuss. If anyone wants to
:00:47. > :00:50.come up and give her a pat, she will love that. Three from three -
:00:50. > :01:00.Hull FC make it a hat-trick of wins by thrashing Super League's bottom
:01:00. > :01:07.
:01:07. > :01:10.team. Little rain to come. The full forecast shot -- falls short life.
:01:10. > :01:13.-- follows shortly. A small number of highly successful
:01:13. > :01:16.businesses in East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire could be the key to
:01:16. > :01:20.lift in the UK out of the economic downturn. That is the finding of
:01:20. > :01:23.research carried out exclusively for BBC Look North. The researchers
:01:23. > :01:26.looked at the national economy and found that even though this area
:01:26. > :01:36.was faring badly compared to the south it contains the highest
:01:36. > :01:37.
:01:37. > :01:42.proportion of fast-growing, export based firms. Here is our business
:01:42. > :01:46.correspondent. This office equipment supplier in Hull is
:01:46. > :01:52.identified by the Experian research as what it calls a business
:01:52. > :01:57.champion. It is young, fast-growing and has potential. When the budget
:01:57. > :02:01.comes along on Wednesday, what does his company want? Has it would be
:02:01. > :02:09.nice to see some creative measures by the government to trying
:02:09. > :02:15.stimulate growth rather than adding extra businesses to -- extra
:02:15. > :02:21.burdens to businesses. Experian says high-performing business
:02:21. > :02:26.Champions are crucial to or our economy. There'll be one in 10
:02:26. > :02:33.companies being referred to as business Champions. They are huge
:02:33. > :02:40.drivers of local GDP growth and of local employment. Here is another
:02:40. > :02:46.star performer - a Lincolnshire- based grain exporter. There has a
:02:46. > :02:52.strong message for government. are a green business. We have gone
:02:52. > :02:57.from employing 50 people five years ago, to double that. We might do
:02:57. > :03:05.that in the next five years but we need help. We do not need to be
:03:05. > :03:10.hampered by red tape and buy things like national insurance. Despite
:03:10. > :03:14.individual success stories, the wider backdrop remains in. The
:03:14. > :03:20.research that it is this growth over last two years in 324 local
:03:20. > :03:24.authority regions. Many of our regions are lying -- ranked in the
:03:24. > :03:29.bottom quarter of this table. Crucially, the research concludes
:03:29. > :03:34.that these worst performing regions are worthy appetite and potential
:03:34. > :03:40.for growth our greatest and where British -- business Champions are
:03:40. > :03:43.emerging. Companies like these are beacons of hope in a bleak economic
:03:43. > :03:47.landscape. Research suggests they need all the government help and
:03:47. > :03:52.support they can get if they are to fully unlock their potential.
:03:52. > :03:58.Whether it is help in exporting, by cutting red tape or additional
:03:58. > :04:02.lending, all of these contribute. We have to ensure we understand the
:04:02. > :04:07.opportunity for these big growth champions represent and we help
:04:07. > :04:12.them as much as possible to realise their ambitions. Ahead of the
:04:12. > :04:19.debate tonight on the economy, we asked Sir guess how growth is best
:04:19. > :04:23.achieved? Economy will grow with small companies, with the digital
:04:23. > :04:27.economy ticking off. Small and medium-sized businesses have always
:04:27. > :04:32.been the powerhouse of the British economy and that is where it will
:04:32. > :04:37.come from. I cannot see a prospect of growth over the next year. I am
:04:37. > :04:41.sorry to say that. Despite challenging economic times,
:04:41. > :04:46.Experian's research concludes there are some signs of recovery but
:04:46. > :04:51.makes it clear this is something that the South of England will
:04:51. > :04:53.experience of well before East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire.
:04:53. > :04:56.Joining me in the studio is Carolyn Burgess from the World Trade Centre
:04:56. > :05:05.in the Hull and Humber. Why is there this potential for growth in
:05:05. > :05:11.this area? Good evening. De UN key there is potential for growth?
:05:11. > :05:17.Absolutely, but it is up to all of us to make it happen. A had been
:05:17. > :05:21.job losses and firms closing down, it is quite a poor outlook? When
:05:21. > :05:25.you look at the picture, more people have lost jobs than gained
:05:25. > :05:32.jobs and more companies have gone bust that have started up. We
:05:32. > :05:36.cannot let that put us off at all. We have fantastic opportunities.
:05:36. > :05:42.heard in the report about a business Champions, can they help
:05:42. > :05:47.turn the economy round? That is the first time I have ever heard that
:05:47. > :05:55.term, but let us hope so. Do people in this region have the right
:05:55. > :06:03.skills to attract businesses? they do. We have this idea that we
:06:03. > :06:07.are very low skilled economy but we are not. -- yes, they do. Fantastic
:06:07. > :06:15.people are coming out of education. There are specific skills we need
:06:15. > :06:19.to. Science, maths, really important skills. I encourage mums
:06:19. > :06:23.and dads to get behind their children and tell them how
:06:23. > :06:29.important it is to take exams because a lot of businesses which
:06:29. > :06:35.will be coming to employee our people, our businesses that will be
:06:35. > :06:40.looking for all sorts of skills and for people who can pass exams. In
:06:40. > :06:44.the past, families have said it did not matter about going to college
:06:44. > :06:50.and getting skills, it is more apparent that qualifications like
:06:50. > :06:54.English, maths and science are vital. If you are one of the many
:06:54. > :06:59.looking for work at the moment in this part of the world, should
:06:59. > :07:03.those people be optimistic? They have to be. For the whole time I
:07:03. > :07:10.have been in this region, this is the one time I feel that people are
:07:10. > :07:14.all coming together and we can make it together. Thank you very much.
:07:14. > :07:19.Is it over optimistic too reliant a small number of successful
:07:19. > :07:29.companies? How much can the Green Energy Industry help improve the
:07:29. > :07:38.
:07:38. > :07:42.economy in places like Hull? Your thoughts on this issue are welcome.
:07:42. > :07:52.Business leaders and local people will be debating the economy in
:07:52. > :07:54.
:07:55. > :07:58.East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire in will stop
:07:58. > :08:01.in a moment: The battle for business in Mablethorpe with a new
:08:02. > :08:05.superstore on the way. A Lincolnshire coach firm has been
:08:06. > :08:07.saved from going into liquidation, saving 25 jobs. AC Williams coaches
:08:08. > :08:12.in Ancaster went into administration in December after
:08:12. > :08:17.its sister company closed. An investor has now come forward and
:08:17. > :08:19.the company has a healthy order book to ensure its survival.
:08:19. > :08:22.Commuters using trains services from East Yorkshire and
:08:22. > :08:30.Lincolnshire have been getting their first view of the revamped
:08:31. > :08:33.concourse is now enclosed by a steel web-like roof. The multi-
:08:33. > :08:41.million pound facility will more than double capacity at a central
:08:41. > :08:44.London station, which used by 47 million passengers every year.
:08:44. > :08:47.Opponents of plans to close to heart surgery unit that treats
:08:47. > :08:50.children from East Yorkshire say new evidence shows it should stay
:08:50. > :08:52.open. Leeds General Infirmary could lose its heart unit, but an
:08:52. > :08:55.independent report has suggested that rival hospital Newcastle would
:08:55. > :09:05.not be able to meet its target for operations. Campaigners say this
:09:05. > :09:06.
:09:06. > :09:10.shows Leeds is a better option. Where the patients will come from,
:09:11. > :09:14.is fundamental to the future of children's heart units in this
:09:14. > :09:18.country. If the information they used was wrong and our information
:09:18. > :09:21.is right, there needs to be a complete rethink.
:09:21. > :09:25.The precise route is out for the Olympic torch for its 70 day
:09:25. > :09:28.journey around the UK. If you live on London Road in Long Sutton or
:09:28. > :09:32.Boothferry Road in Goole, you can find out exactly what time a runner
:09:32. > :09:38.will be passing where you live. On 18th June in Bridlington, the torch
:09:38. > :09:41.will enter our area for the first time - staying overnight in Hull.
:09:41. > :09:44.Over the next two weeks it will travel on the Cleethorpes Coast
:09:44. > :09:47.Light Railway and will pass key landmarks in Lincoln - including
:09:47. > :09:51.the cathedral. 296 local runners will carry the
:09:51. > :09:59.torch on its way to the Olympic Park. Phil Connell reports on the
:10:00. > :10:04.route and the runners making history in our area.
:10:04. > :10:09.It is the first detailed route of the roads, towns and villages where
:10:09. > :10:15.the Olympic torch will be coming. In our region it arrives in
:10:15. > :10:19.Scarborough Road on 18th June. 13 weeks to go, but already a date in
:10:19. > :10:25.they died a here which has everyone talking. Things like that do not
:10:25. > :10:31.normally happen here. -- at date in the diary. It will be geared and
:10:31. > :10:37.show people what we have here. A I am looking forward to seeing it.
:10:37. > :10:42.The torch will spend seven days in our region, visiting towns and
:10:42. > :10:46.villages on both sides of the Humber. A journey which will see it
:10:46. > :10:55.carried by hundreds of nominated people. Each one will have their
:10:55. > :11:01.own story. In Seaford, the torch will be carried by Lincolnshire
:11:01. > :11:08.firemen Neil. He has a special partner, Holly. She is an
:11:08. > :11:12.international rescue dog and has saved numerous lines over the years.
:11:12. > :11:17.Her work is being recognised by the Special Olympic corner. She would
:11:17. > :11:24.take it in her stride. If anyone on the day wants to come up and give
:11:24. > :11:30.her a pat, she will love that. about you? I cannot wait. To
:11:30. > :11:37.actually hold the flame, it will be a great honour. On its writ, there
:11:37. > :11:42.are some spectacular moments planned. It will absinthe 300 ft
:11:42. > :11:47.down the dock tower in Grimsby. -- at Sale. It will be in Cleethorpes,
:11:47. > :11:53.hitching a ride on one of the best known attractions in the region. It
:11:53. > :11:58.will travel on the theme is Light Railway. A short ride along the
:11:58. > :12:01.seaside which aims to get Cleethorpes noticed. Many people
:12:01. > :12:06.throughout the world and in the country will be watching the
:12:06. > :12:13.Olympic Games and following the torch. Cleethorpes will be
:12:13. > :12:20.fantastic. It will do very well. The torch will be carried across
:12:20. > :12:25.our region by 296 nominated people. This is a judo player is one of
:12:25. > :12:31.them. Jack is 15 and has Usher syndrome which affects sight and
:12:31. > :12:40.hearing. He's seen as a future contender for the Paralympics.
:12:40. > :12:44.got asked to go into the Paralympics in 2016 and 2020.
:12:44. > :12:47.will be relief proud of him. Hopefully, all the family will
:12:48. > :12:55.watch them and we hope he understands his achievement that
:12:55. > :13:00.not many people get. It is a once- in-a-lifetime opportunity.
:13:00. > :13:04.torch will leave Lincolnshire on 4th July before heading to King's
:13:05. > :13:12.Lynn. A chance for all parts of her region to shine and create our own
:13:12. > :13:16.Olympic memories. -- our region. You can get street by street
:13:16. > :13:19.information on-line. Still ahead tonight: Your guide to the best
:13:19. > :13:21.places to see the Olympic torch as it passes through East Yorkshire
:13:21. > :13:31.and Lincolnshire. Unbeaten in 10 - but Hull City drew
:13:31. > :13:36.
:13:36. > :13:42.a blank once again to fall out of the play-off places.
:13:42. > :13:52.I prefer watching. This is tonight's photographs. -- thank you
:13:52. > :14:08.
:14:08. > :14:16.for watching. Please send in your In Switzerland we were visiting
:14:16. > :14:24.family and we found a town called Belmont!
:14:24. > :14:29.The picture for tomorrow is one with a lot of cloud. Yet again that
:14:29. > :14:34.we are looking at the week without any rain fought at all. And this
:14:35. > :14:44.area of high pressure could now be with us for the rest of March. That
:14:45. > :14:45.
:14:45. > :14:54.is worrying news. There has been some speckled cloud around. Quite a
:14:54. > :15:03.pleasant end to the day in spite of the breeze. Clear spells at first
:15:03. > :15:12.tonight and later on a touch of ground frost. It is a predominantly
:15:12. > :15:22.dried picture. The sun will rise at three minutes past six in the
:15:22. > :15:26.morning, setting at 6:16pm. Not a bad day all though there will be a
:15:26. > :15:36.lot of cloud at first which could lead to some patchy rain and
:15:36. > :15:40.
:15:40. > :15:47.drizzle. Temperatures around 15 or 16 degrees. So it is a bright
:15:47. > :15:53.afternoon with some sunshine. On Wednesday, looking pleasant with
:15:53. > :15:57.some sunshine. But then a switch in the wind direction brings in a lot
:15:57. > :16:07.of cloud from the North Sea. And of cloud from the North Sea. And
:16:07. > :16:11.
:16:11. > :16:14.The owner of Hull City Football Club, Assem Allam, has confirmed to
:16:14. > :16:21.BBC Look North that his company has made a donation of �100,000 to the
:16:21. > :16:23.Labour Party. Mr Allam has denied suggestions in the national press
:16:23. > :16:33.that the money could influence Labour councillors in Hull to allow
:16:33. > :16:37.him to buy the KC stadium. And he said he would be donating the same
:16:37. > :16:39.amount to the Conservative Party. Vanessa Clarke reports.
:16:39. > :16:45.He is a multi millionaire that has given away thousands of pounds to
:16:45. > :16:47.organisations over the years. But it's a �100,000 donation to the
:16:47. > :16:57.Labour party that has come under scrutiny, one which Assem Allam has
:16:57. > :16:58.
:16:58. > :17:05.defended. I do not discriminate in politics,
:17:05. > :17:10.colour, or anything. When I am in a position to contribute, it is based
:17:10. > :17:13.on equal payment to both the Labour and the conservative parties.
:17:13. > :17:16.Mr Allam was joined by the leader of the Labour party Ed Miliband at
:17:16. > :17:23.the KC Stadium last weekend. He'd pulled out of an NHS rally early
:17:23. > :17:30.because he was ill. It is the first time I have been
:17:30. > :17:34.accused of putting football ahead of the NHS!
:17:34. > :17:37.The Conservative Party says questions need to be asked about
:17:37. > :17:43.whether the donation could influence Labour councillors here
:17:43. > :17:46.to allow him to buy the stadium. How can a Labour-run city council
:17:46. > :17:51.deal with these planning applications in an unbiased way
:17:51. > :17:55.when he has made this massive donation to the Labour Party?
:17:55. > :18:01.But the Labour leader of the council disputes the claims. I do
:18:01. > :18:06.not think that is the case with Assem Allam. He's just pleased to
:18:06. > :18:11.donate this money to causes that he is supporting and good luck to him.
:18:11. > :18:16.What would you say to suggestions that he did this to gain the
:18:16. > :18:26.backing of Labour? I do not know how any sensible person would think
:18:26. > :18:28.
:18:28. > :18:34.this way. These are cases where I am donating money, not gaining
:18:34. > :18:37.money. Tonight the Labour Party is says details of donations are
:18:37. > :18:47.reported to the Electoral Commission in accordance with the
:18:47. > :18:52.
:18:52. > :18:57.rules. Assem Allam says he will continue to support democracy.
:18:58. > :19:01.It is a decision that has split a town. For some and of the town
:19:01. > :19:06.supermarket on the outskirts of Mablethorpe will save a struggling
:19:06. > :19:16.seaside town from terminal decline. Others say the development will
:19:16. > :19:18.
:19:19. > :19:22.kill remaining businesses in the town centre.
:19:22. > :19:27.Some locals are concerned that a supermarket away from the high
:19:27. > :19:31.street here will harm what is already the seasonal economy.
:19:31. > :19:36.People will go up there and do their shopping, fill the car with
:19:36. > :19:41.petrol, broke for a meal and go home again. They will not come into
:19:41. > :19:46.this town at all and it will die. The district council has approved
:19:46. > :19:51.outline plans for a supermarket, homes and a petrol station. But it
:19:51. > :19:55.is about a mile out site of the town centre. The high street is
:19:55. > :20:00.already suffering. I think any development will help the town but
:20:00. > :20:06.I think people are taking outside the town, if there is free parking,
:20:06. > :20:10.it will affect the town centre. None of us want to be in charge of
:20:10. > :20:15.a declining town centre. The town centre at the moment is busy but we
:20:15. > :20:19.would like to make it busier. some residents say they fear for
:20:19. > :20:22.their homes as well as the shops. To stop the site from flooding the
:20:22. > :20:27.development would lead to be built about two metres of the ground,
:20:27. > :20:33.about as high as that fence. People living around the site cent that
:20:33. > :20:37.puts their homes at risk. These are the houses we considered to be most
:20:37. > :20:41.at risk of flooding. There are other areas where they could build
:20:41. > :20:47.where there are no houses surrounded the area. And therefore
:20:47. > :20:50.it would not put more houses at risk. But developers say they have
:20:50. > :20:55.already thought about that and there will be sufficient drainage.
:20:55. > :21:01.Detailed plans still need approval from the council but this is one
:21:01. > :21:07.issue that leaves this seaside town of Split.
:21:07. > :21:09.-- seaside town split. Hull City can move back into the
:21:09. > :21:13.Championship play off places with a win over the league leaders
:21:13. > :21:16.tomorrow night. The Tigers are unbeaten in ten
:21:16. > :21:24.games, but had to settle for a nil nil draw against Crystal Palace on
:21:24. > :21:34.Saturday. Nick Barmby has a plan to beat Southampton tomorrow.
:21:34. > :21:35.
:21:35. > :21:44.We have to utilise our winners tomorrow. We are learning every
:21:44. > :21:47.week, different styles of play. I believe they can score at any given
:21:47. > :21:50.moment. Scunthorpe United manager Alan
:21:50. > :21:53.Knill says his players are proving the pessimists wrong.
:21:53. > :21:59.United earned a point against top of the table Charlton over the
:21:59. > :22:01.weekend thanks to a John Parkin penalty. They play Bury tomorrow
:22:01. > :22:08.looking to go six games unbeaten and the manager says he never
:22:08. > :22:12.worried about his side going down. Everyone else has talked about
:22:12. > :22:16.Scunthorpe going down but I have never really mentioned it, I always
:22:16. > :22:21.had faith in the players. It is just that we could not get the
:22:21. > :22:25.squad together through injuries or suspensions. But once we had I
:22:25. > :22:27.always felt we would be strong. In rugby, Hull FC are up to sixth
:22:27. > :22:33.in the Super League table after thrashing bottom-of-the-league
:22:33. > :22:35.Widnes. Yesterday's win was also the Black and Whites third in a row.
:22:35. > :22:39.Across the city though, it wasn't such a good weekend for Hull
:22:40. > :22:42.Kingston Rovers. Mike Morris reports.
:22:42. > :22:50.The Robins trailed early on in France, but hit back when Michael
:22:50. > :22:52.Dobson went in for a try. Rovers fans had smiles on their faces at
:22:52. > :22:55.half time following Kris Welham's length of the field run, which put
:22:55. > :22:58.them twelve six up at the break. The French outfit dominated the
:22:58. > :23:00.second half and levelled with a contentious try from Damien Blanch.
:23:00. > :23:06.Two penalties edged them in front and Thomas Bosc's late try
:23:06. > :23:11.condemned Rovers to defeat. Danny Tickle was the star of the
:23:11. > :23:14.show for Hull FC as they hammered Widnes 58-10 at the KC Stadium.
:23:14. > :23:17.He scored four tries and nine goals for the Black and Whites. Willie
:23:17. > :23:21.Manu scored twice in the club's biggest win of the season and Hull
:23:21. > :23:29.forward Sam Moa completed the scoring for them. They're now up to
:23:29. > :23:32.sixth and have lost just once this season.
:23:32. > :23:39.Back to the route of the Olympic Torch when it comes to East
:23:39. > :23:44.Yorkshire and Lincolnshire in June. Phil Connell is live in the village
:23:44. > :23:52.of Withern, near Louth. Phil, how easy is it going to be to see the
:23:53. > :24:00.torch relay? Well it will visit 51 different
:24:00. > :24:07.places in the region. And not just the big towns and cities. As we
:24:07. > :24:17.have just been hearing, it kicks off on 18th June. It will be in
:24:17. > :24:17.
:24:17. > :24:23.Bridlington, Beverley and then in Hull in the evening. Then on the
:24:23. > :24:30.Tuesday it is in three places. And then we next see it on Tuesday 26th
:24:30. > :24:36.June. That ends with the second evening party in Cleethorpes. On
:24:36. > :24:38.Wednesday, that is a full day for the Olympic torch in Nantes region.
:24:38. > :24:48.the Olympic torch in Nantes region. It passes through all these towns
:24:48. > :24:49.
:24:49. > :24:54.and villages. Almost 20 of them in all. On June the 28, the torch will
:24:54. > :25:01.leave Lincoln and then moves into Nottinghamshire before moving back
:25:01. > :25:06.into Grantham of later that day. On Tuesday 3rd July 2008 you can see
:25:06. > :25:11.the Olympic torch in Stanford as it makes its way towards Peterborough.
:25:11. > :25:15.And then on the Wednesday it will pass through all these villages in
:25:15. > :25:21.Lincolnshire before heading out towards Norfolk. You can check all
:25:21. > :25:25.of these dates and places on the BBC website. Will hear it is about
:25:25. > :25:29.14 weeks until the Olympic torch a 14 weeks until the Olympic torch a
:25:29. > :25:35.rise but already it is a massive talking-point. What is it going to
:25:35. > :25:40.be like when it arrives? It is a great opportunity to be part of the
:25:40. > :25:45.history of the Olympics. What will the turnout be like? Hopefully,
:25:45. > :25:52.really good. It is going to be great for the local community, we
:25:52. > :25:57.will have a massive party. Organisers say that it should pass
:25:57. > :26:07.within 10 miles of 95% of Britain's population. So there is a pretty
:26:07. > :26:14.
:26:14. > :26:16.good chance that we will all get the chance to see it.
:26:16. > :26:19.Let's get a recap of the national and regional headlines. A gunman
:26:19. > :26:21.leaves four dead at a Jewish school in southern France. Three of the
:26:21. > :26:23.victims were children. President Sarkozy calls it a national tragedy.
:26:23. > :26:26.Research for the BBC says a small number of highly successful
:26:26. > :26:28.businesses in our area could be the key to lifting the UK out of the
:26:28. > :26:31.economic downturn. And tomorrow's weather, partly cloudy with sunny
:26:31. > :26:33.spells. The risk of a few spots of rain in the morning, but most
:26:33. > :26:42.places staying dry with a moderate Southwest wind. A maximum
:26:42. > :26:50.temperature of 15 degrees. Now responses coming in on the
:26:50. > :26:54.subject of businesses and skills. This one is quite interesting, it
:26:54. > :26:58.says as a highly qualified computer program or I tell children to get
:26:58. > :27:03.as many qualifications as they can. They will not get you a job but
:27:04. > :27:08.they will get to the interview from the job, from there it is up to you
:27:08. > :27:18.to sell yourself. Another once says there's not much hope for jobs in
:27:18. > :27:21.
:27:21. > :27:27.this area. And another saying that councils should put their full
:27:27. > :27:32.financial support behind existing tidal power companies to make the
:27:32. > :27:38.area world-beating in the field of renewable energy. We have the