The CBI says the Budget will be “make or break” for business and is urging the chancellor to focus on investment and exports to balance up the British economy.

The business lobby, Britain’s biggest by number of employees represented, lumped pressure on the chancellor, George Osborne, on the eve of the Budget statement.

Its main proposals are:

• Introducing an energy package which encourages investment in generation and helps businesses and households struggling with high energy costs

• Extending the Annual Investment Allowance beyond 2015

• Incentivising longer-term equity investment through tax relief for retail investors

• Introducing a capital allowance for structures and buildings

• Freezing Air Passenger Duty

John Cridland, CBI director-general, said: “We're on the cusp of an exciting recovery but we can’t assume that rebalancing of our economy is a given.

“We need the chancellor to use his budget to support business investment and encourage firms to get on planes to sell their wares around the globe by getting behind our exporters. This Budget really is make or break.”