Yorkshire solicitor Rachel Roche has been awarded a prestigious £75,000 Innovate UK Women in Innovation Award for developing PetPact®, a pioneering digital platform that helps pet owners plan for their animal’s future care.
The award, part of UK Research and Innovation’s flagship programme supporting women-led innovation, recognises PetPact’s mission to address a little-known legal issue affecting millions of pet owners. Rachel was selected from a record 1,590 applicants from across the UK.
Founder of award-winning York-based Roche Legal, Rachel created PetPact to help give owners peace of mind that their pets will be cared for if they become seriously ill, die or separate from a partner. PetPact allows owners to name an animal guardian and sets out clear instructions for their ongoing care and sits alongside their Will.
An estimated 62% of UK households own one of the country’s 36.5 million pets*, but in England and Wales pets are still legally classed as property. Research by the Association of Lifetime Lawyers found in 2025 that 60% of UK adults over 30 are unaware of their pet’s legal status.
The award comes as momentum grows for reform of pet law in the UK, with Rachel engaging parliamentarians and legal reform groups on the issue.
Rachel 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.
“Currently, your dog has the same legal status as your sofa but nobody grieves for the loss of a sofa. We plan carefully for our children and finances and the law should let us do the same for the animals who are part of our families.
“PetPact gives owners that protection today and this Innovate UK award will help us demonstrate how we can reach pet owners at scale through the vets and insurers they already trust.”
Danny Chambers MP, a veterinary surgeon and MP for Winchester, said: “As a vet, I have seen how deeply people love their animals but our law still treats pets as property. Initiatives like PetPact help owners plan properly for their pets’ care and show why it’s time the law caught up with the way families really feel about their animals.”
Rachel is one of 61 winners in this year’s Innovate UK Women in Innovation Awards, receiving a £75,000 grant alongside a year-long package of business support, training and networking.
PetPact was also selected in 2025 for Innovate UK’s Global Incubator Programme, enabling the business to explore international growth through Canada’s Legal Innovation Zone, the world’s largest legal technology incubator.
*Statistics from UK Pet Population | UK Pet Food
Image provided by Roche Legal
