A BUSINESS complex in Darlington is home to an important message board encouraging people to improve their life skills.

A Get On North-East roadshow stand has been sited in the reception area at Lingfield House, in Lingfield Point.

It will be on display between roadshows to promote the regional campaign, part of the national Skills for Life strategy for improving adult literacy and numeracy skills.

Alan Clarke, chief executive of regional development agency One NorthEast, a partner organisation in Get On North-East, said: "Skills for Life is an issue for more people in the North-East than many people would imagine. Approximately 400,000 people in this region would benefit from improved literacy skills, and 750,000 from numeracy courses.

"A large part of the region's workforce would benefit in some way from topping up their skills. Supporting this campaign is one way in which we are tackling these issues and improving the conditions for businesses in order that they thrive in the region, grow and create jobs."

The information stand will reach out to the 1,400 workers at Lingfield House as well as the many visitors passing through the doors everyday. Eddie Humphries, estate manager at Lingfield Point, said having the information on-site was a good way of giving tenants and their employees a chance to investigate how they could improve skills.

"By having better skilled employees, the businesses inside Lingfield Point can get the best out of their staff and increase their efficiency," he said.

The roadshow will be targeting shoppers until late August. It has already been taken to The Bridges centre, in Sunderland, and the Prince Bishops Shopping Centre, in Durham City.