Rachel Roche's PetPact Wins £75,000 Innovate UK Grant

York‑based solicitor Rachel Roche founded the digital platform PetPact in 2025 to let pet owners name an animal guardian and set out care instructions alongside their will. The service, which aims to address the legal status of pets as property, was awarded a £75,000 Innovate UK Women in Innovation grant, part of UK Research and Innovation’s programme supporting women‑led ventures. Roche was selected from a record 1,590 applicants across the United Kingdom.

The grant includes a year‑long package of business support, training and networking. Roche said, “Like me, every pet owner hopes they will always be there to care for their furry, feathered or scaled friend, but life is unpredictable…PetPact gives owners that protection today.” MP Danny Chambers, a veterinary surgeon, welcomed the initiative, noting the need for the law to catch up with how families treat pets.