The UK needs to show strong business and political leadership to boost trust, raise national productivity and seize global opportunities, the CBI’s President Paul Drechsler will say tomorrow at this year’s CBI Annual Conference.

Speaking to an audience of more than 1,000 business leaders at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel, Drechsler is expected to urge the Government to boost innovation by doubling the funding for the Innovate UK agency by the end of the Parliament.

Drechsler will also call for decisive action on infrastructure, including an early decision on the building of an extra runway in the south-east of England.

On the debate about a possible Brexit from the European Union – over which the CBI has been attacked by the government for saying that it was in favour of the UK remaining part of a reformed EU before negotiations on possible reforms have been concluded – Drechsler will call for the debate on EU membership to be based on “sober analysis of the arguments, not heated attacks on those making them.”

“With the coming referendum, Britain faces a decision about its future. One thing is for sure – the business view will be crucial,” he said.

“And over time business leaders should let their employees, communities, customers and suppliers know what the referendum means for growth and jobs.

“Whilst there’s no uniform view on the subject – neither within the CBI, nor among the wider business community – the majority of CBI members want to remain in a reformed EU.”