The next Senedd election will take place in May, and it will be the first election under Wales’ new electoral system.
For social enterprises, co-operatives and community businesses across Wales, this election matters. It will bring new political representatives, new constituencies and potentially new policy priorities.
Understanding these changes – and engaging with candidates and politicians early – will help ensure that the social business sector continues to grow and play a central role in building a fairer, more prosperous Welsh economy and stronger, more resilient communities.
We know that for many people working in the social enterprise sector, having the time to navigate complex changes about electoral systems might be a luxury – so we’ve written this blog to outline the key changes and suggest some actions you can do to help the sector make the most of this period.
A New Electoral System for the Senedd
The 2026 election will be conducted under a new proportional electoral system. Instead of the current mix of constituency and regional seats, Wales will move to:
- 16 large constituencies
- 6 Members of the Senedd (MSs) elected in each constituency
- 96 MSs in total
All MSs will be elected using proportional representation via the D’Hondt method, with voters choosing between party lists. Each individual will have one vote, they’ll all be added up, and then the seats will be allocated to the parties in a proportional way. You can read more about this here.
This means that each constituency will return a team of six MSs, likely representing multiple political parties. Parties now don’t need to win the whole vote to get elected, they just need to get enough to get an allocation.
At the same time, the constituencies are changing shape and size too. You can find out which of the new constituencies your organisation sits within here: https://constituency.senedd.wales/
Why This Matters for the Social Business Sector
The new system will bring significant political change. First, there will simply be more Members of the Senedd – increasing from 60 to 96. That extra capacity means we can expect more from our elected representatives, freeing up more time for community engagement and policy development.
Second, a large number of newly elected politicians are expected, even without significant political change. For the social enterprise and co-operative sector, this creates both a challenge and an opportunity.
Many incoming MSs may be unfamiliar with:
- the scale of the social business sector in Wales
- the diversity of models, including co-operatives, social firms, employee-owned businesses and community enterprises
- the economic and social impact these organisations have in communities across Wales
Ensuring that new representatives understand these models – and the role they can play in delivering economic growth, community wealth building and public service innovation – will be crucial.
At the same time, community-based social enterprises can offer something invaluable to new Members of the Senedd. These organisations are at the heart of their communities and can be a vital asset in understanding local issues and engaging with citizens. Don’t underestimate how useful these relationships can be for new Members of the Senedd.
The Role Social Businesses Can Play
One of the most effective ways to help elected representatives understand the sector is by showing them first-hand.
We encourage social businesses across Wales to consider:
- Inviting candidates to visit your organisation during the election campaign
- Hosting visits for newly elected MSs after the election
- Sharing stories about the impact your organisation has in your community
- Encourage the people they work with to actively participate in the political process
Seeing social enterprise and co-operation in practice can be far more powerful than reading about it in a policy paper. At Cwmpas, we will be writing to all newly elected Members of the Senedd following the election to introduce the social business sector and highlight its contribution to the Welsh economy and communities.
However, local engagement will always be the most impactful. If your organisation would like support arranging a visit with candidates or MSs, we would be very happy to help facilitate this.
Manifestos Are Beginning to Be Published
Political parties have also begun publishing their manifestos for the 2026 Senedd election. These documents set out what parties hope to achieve if they form the next Welsh Government.
We encourage organisations across the social business sector to:
- Read the manifestos as they are published
- Consider how the policies might affect your organisation and your community
- Discuss these issues with local candidates
Once all party manifestos have been released, Cwmpas will publish an analysis comparing them, focusing specifically on what they mean for social enterprises, co-operatives and the wider social business ecosystem in Wales.
A Moment of Opportunity
The 2026 election will be a significant moment for Welsh democracy.
With a new electoral system, a larger Senedd and many new representatives, there is a real opportunity to ensure that diverse business models – including co-operatives and social enterprises – are understood and supported at the heart of Welsh policymaking.
By engaging early with candidates and future Members of the Senedd, the social business sector can help shape the conversation about what a fairer, more inclusive Welsh economy should look like.
