THE Trades Union Congress (TUC) and the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) have joined forces to lead a campaign to improve literacy and numeracy in the North-East.

The campaign, Get On North East, will target an estimated 400,000 adults who have difficulties with reading, writing and basic maths.

The Northern Echo has learnt that about £50m is to be spent on the campaign, with the investment going through the four Learning and Skills Councils (LSC) in the region.

In the North-East, it is hoped that more than 38,000 adults with poor basic skills will have gained a basic skills qualification by the end of the year.

Other aims include improving the quality and quantity of training available and promoting the understanding of the impact that basic skills have on the lives and prospects of people and businesses.

Steve Rankin, regional director of the CBI, said: "The importance of this issue to the business community in the North-East cannot be overestimated. For too long, the region has lagged behind other areas of the UK in these core basic skills of English and maths, and I have no doubt that is holding back our regional economy."

A spokesperson for regional development agency One NorthEast said: "We view improving skills at all levels to be crucial in meeting the current and future demands of employers and assisting the North-East's economy."

Pam Eccles, executive director of LSC Tees Valley, said: "£50m is a substantial commitment to the Get On North East initiative to raise skills for life across the region.

"Not only will this money help open up life chances for employees, but it will also help employers and North-East business as a whole by increasing the region's skill base and the productivity of businesses."

For more information about free basic skills courses, call the Get On campaign line on 0800 100 900, or visit www.getonnortheast.org.uk