Cylchlythyr Cadno:
News from the den
Croeso – it’s spring!
As we reflect on the winter and welcome the spring – a time of growth – this newsletter celebrates its first anniversary. Thanks for reading and keeping up with our news!
We’ve put a lot of time and energy into extracurricular activity over the last few months, trying to learn more and contribute more. We’ve welcomed students on the Destination Renewables programme at Pembrokeshire College to the Senedd, planted some trees, attended lots of dinners and events, spoken at conferences, and benefitted from the expertise of others (thank you John Craig from RWE!).
Gearing up for the 2026 Senedd Election
It won’t have escaped your intention that there is a Welsh election in 2026, now only a little more than a year away. This isn’t just any election; it’s a game-changer. A new, expanded Senedd with 96 Members will be elected using a fresh voting system. The 16 new constituencies, confirmed this month, will each elect 6 Members of the Senedd (MSs) through the more proportional D’Hondt seat allocation method.
For the first time since devolution began, Welsh Labour’s dominance is under serious threat. Thanks to small polling margins and the complexities of the new electoral system, predicting the seat distribution is no easy task. However, both Plaid Cymru and Reform UK will be vying with Welsh Labour to win the most seats and lead the next Welsh Government. With no party ever having secured an overall majority in the Senedd, and the new system making it even tougher, some form of coalition or cooperation will be essential.
The shape of this cooperation will determine the content of the next programme for government. With leading parties holding distinct views on renewable energy, net zero, and infrastructure, the outcome of the election on Thursday, 7 May 2026, will have far-reaching consequences for our industry.
Parties in Cardiff Bay are already gearing up for the election. They are selecting new candidates, drafting manifestos, and honing their campaign strategies. At Cadno, we’re also preparing to support our clients through what promises to be a pivotal year for governance and policy in Wales. If you need guidance navigating the upcoming year in Welsh politics, the 2026 election, and the next Senedd and Welsh Government, drop Daniel an email at [email protected]
Senedd Cross Party Group on Renewable and Low Carbon Energy
The latest session of the Senedd Cross Party Group on Renewable and Low Carbon Energy, for which Cadno acts as the secretariat, took place on Monday 10 March. The session focused on the impact of aviation and radar constraints on the development of onshore wind energy. We were lucky to have two expert speakers who have been working closely to the issue – Head of Policy at RenewableUK, James Robottom and Senior Aviation Manager at RES, Sam Johnson. It was a fantastic session, with James and Sam explaining the issue in great depth and highlighting the far-reaching consequences for the deployment of renewable energy in Wales.
The CPG’s next session will be taking place at the Senedd on Tuesday 10 June. We have a great session lined up and will be sharing more details about the speakers and arrangements soon. If you want to find out more about the CPG and join the circulation list, contact Daniel at [email protected]
Cadno in Conversation: Women in Renewables with Rebecca Evans MS – 3 April
We are very pleased that the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning, Rebecca Evans MS, is our guest speaker at the next Cadno in Conversation event, for women working in renewables.
The event takes place on Thursday 3 April 2025 at the offices of Eversheds Sutherland in Cardiff and is kindly supported by Eversheds Sutherland and Savills.
Attendees can expect to learn more about Rebecca’s career as a woman in politics and what her plans are for the future. We will also be exploring her vision for our sector and what energy professionals can do to help her achieve her aims. We look forward to seeing many of you there!
Destination Renewables with Sam Kurtz MS
We are hugely proud to be a delivery partner in Pembrokeshire College’s Destination Renewables programme, a two-year industry-led further education programme preparing 16 to 18 year olds for careers in the fast-growing green energy sector.
As part of our regular contribution to the programme, we recently arranged for students to visit the Senedd with our host for the day Samuel Kurtz, MS for Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire. After a tour of the Senedd, we had a discussion about the role of politicians, public affairs and policymaking in the development of renewable energy, and sat in on First Minister’s Questions in the Chamber.
Cardiff University Student Futures – Inspiring the next generation of PR professionals
Cardiff University Student Futures hosted an Employer Panel in February, aimed at inspiring marketing, social media and PR students. Sarah joined as a speaker on the panel, sharing her advice for getting into the industry and reflecting on her own unconventional career path which led her from graduating with a BSc in Cognitive Science to Cadno, via HM Prison Service and the third sector.
Party Conferences
It’s conference season – again! This is such an important year in the electoral cycle. With Senedd Elections in just over a year’s time, the political parties are cranking up their campaign machines, writing manifestos and selecting candidates for an enlarged parliamentary intake of 96 (up from 60). Cadno will be attending all three main Welsh party political conferences this spring. Let us know if you are there and would like to meet for a coffee.
Daniel joins the Public Affairs Cymru committee
Daniel is thrilled to be joining the 2025 -2026 Public Affairs Cymru Exec Committee! PAC is an invaluable source of support, knowledge and connections for those working in public affairs in Wales. Daniel is looking forward to working with the fantastic individuals on the committee during what promises to be an exciting year ahead in Welsh politics!
Cadno takes a leading role in newly launched Women in Public Affairs Cymru
Women in Public Affairs (WiPA) Cymru was launched in November with Cadno’s Angharad Davies taking a role as a senior adviser. Wipa Cymru’s goal is to support women working in the public affairs industry and provide networking opportunities to share ideas. In February, WiPA Cymru held a speed mentoring session which Angharad and Sarah joined to share their career experiences and have conversations about skills, building confidence, and female leadership in the industry.
Cadno team update
In January, Ewan celebrated his first anniversary at Cadno, here he reflects on what he’s learnt.
‘I am so proud of the last year and what I have achieved alongside our great team. I have enjoyed working with our great clients, who are all doing important work across the renewable energy sector. It has been so fulfilling to work on projects which will make a significant contribution to the country’s ambitions in achieving clean energy and addressing the climate crisis. Very importantly, I have had the privilege of being able to use my Welsh with clients and stakeholders on a daily basis.’ Read Ewan’s full LinkedIn post.
Cadno signs the Green Growth Pledge
Cadno is proud to have signed up to the Welsh Government’s Green Growth Pledge, formalising our commitments to sustainability and achieving a positive impact for our local environment.
Cadno champions equality, diversity and inclusion
Equality has always been a core value of Cadno, which the whole team is extremely passionate about. In February, we formalised our commitment to equality by signing the Welsh Government’s Equality Pledge and becoming a Disability Confident Committed employer.
Expert insights on renewables financing
We are grateful to John Craig and Poppy Tremayne from RWE for sharing their expertise to talk us through project financing for offshore wind, CfDs and routes to market.
As public affairs and comms professionals, we rarely get into the detail of project finance, and it was fascinating to learn about the economics at play.
Tree Planting with Coed Caerdydd
Ewan, Sarah and Daniel and The Crown Estate’s David Jones and Katie Buckingham joined Coed Caerdydd at a community event to plant a variety of homegrown and native Welsh fruit and ornamental trees in Splott. Coed Caerdydd has an ambitious 10-year programme of tree canopy expansion in Cardiff as part of Cardiff Council’s One Planet climate change strategy.
Gallery – Our Winter in pictures
Finance Minister and former First Minister, Mark Drakeford MS gives the after dinner speech at the Public Affairs Cymru annual dinner |
Cadno and guests enjoying the annual Public Affairs Cymru dinner |
Future Energy Wales in November |
Our Christmas celebrations – this year we did the Sherlock Holmes Escape Room and got out with a full 7 minutes to spare! |
Exhibition boards at RWE’s informal consultation events for Carnedd Wen Wind Farm in November |
Sam Kurtz MS presents to Pembrokeshire College students, here with Cadno’s Daniel Taylor |
Pembrokeshire College students listen in to FMQs in Y Siambr |
Angharad joined the panel at the ‘Connecting Energy Professionals in Cardiff’ event hosted by Eversheds Sutherland Energy |
Angharad on the panel for the launch of Women in Public Affairs Cymru |
Ewan and David’s tree – planted and slanted |
Women in Public Affairs Cymru ‘speed mentoring’ event which Sarah and Angharad participated in |
A 5km walk around Bute Park in the sun for Joe Wicks’ Movement Hour on 5 March |
