David Marsh, managing partner of leading Bristol law firm Burges Salmon, is the new Master of the Society of Merchant Venturers, the historic business-led organisation that encourages entrepreneurialism and has extensive charity interests across the city.
David, who has been a Merchant Venturer for 10 years, has identified support for enterprise in the Bristol area as a priority for the Society over the next 12 months.
“My term as Master begins at a particularly challenging time, with the impact of the downturn being felt by many local people,” he said.
“We will continue to place emphasis on the Merchant Venturers’ core objective to ‘contribute to the prosperity and well-being of the Greater Bristol area’.
“The Merchants bring together a wealth of entrepreneurial experience, understanding and skills that can make a strong contribution to the economic life of this area. Many Merchants are passionately keen to share their experience, stimulating and backing entrepreneurial initiative.”
A former President of the Bristol Chamber of Commerce, David believes that the Merchants can use their personal and collective influence to support business activity: “We must really get behind Colin Skellett and support the work that he is doing as Chairman of the new Local Enterprise Partnership.
“Colin and his contacts have a real commitment to the Bristol city region and the LEP has the strategic ability to make a huge difference – but only if it has the full support of the local community.”
Also, high on the agenda for the Merchant Venturers over the next 12 months is a continuation of their commitment to education in Bristol. As chairman of governors at Colston’s School for seven years, education is an area of great importance and interest for David.
As a senior partner at Burges Salmon, David has helped the firm develop into a significant national player in the legal services sector, employing more than 600 people in Bristol.
He has also been a director of a number of local companies including Taylor Maxwell, Foster Yeoman, Denmans Electrical and Chelsea Building Society.
