New York versus London is often the battle that dominates the capital markets conversation but the real stand-off - particularly for smaller, growing companies - is public versus private.

When is the right time for founders and their key backers to go public? How can the stock market increase its appeal so that more entrepreneurs take the plunge?

And what do the latest efforts to blur the divide between public and private mean for growing businesses in the future?

Taking part in this conversation are two seasoned business builders.

Ray Anderson has more than 30 years’ experience in starting, growing and selling businesses. He is executive chair and founder of Bango, the AIM-listed digital payments and marketing expert that connects online merchants with more paying customers. Founded in 1999, the company works with everyone from start-ups to some of the world’s largest online businesses, including Amazon, Google and Microsoft.

Steve Rigby is co-chief executive of Rigby Group, one of the UK’s largest family-owned firms with annual turnover of £3.8 billion. The business comprises IT services, several tech investments and a property arm that spans regional airports, hotels, residential and commercial. Rigby is also on the board of Family Business UK and chair of the Private Business Commission, launched to investigate why many UK companies struggle to maximise their growth potential.

Growth Capital is presented by the QCA’s chief executive, James Ashton.

It is sponsored by Mazars, the audit, tax and advisory firm helping listed businesses grow with purpose.

Mazars is an international audit, tax and advisory firm. Operating in over 95 countries and territories around the world, we combine local knowledge with global perspective to help our clients build and grow their businesses with confidence. In the UK, we are amongst the largest firms in the sector and are a leading auditor to Public Interest Entities (PIEs).