Pet adoption app, Only Rescues, has been named the winner of the Pet Industry Federation (PIF) Innovation Award 2026 at this year’s Business of Pets Conference, held on 3 & 4 June at the Cranfield Management Development Centre.
The award celebrates innovation within the pet sector and this year attracted 14 finalists, pitching their innovation live to conference delegates over the course of the two-day event. The standard of entries was exceptionally high, showcasing the creativity, entrepreneurial spirit and forward-thinking ideas emerging across the UK pet industry.
Only Rescues secured the highest overall score from delegates, who assessed each finalist on innovation, market potential and overall impact. Tara Hamdi, the app’s founder, presented a pitch at the conference which explained how it acts as a central platform matching prospective owners with rescue cats and dogs from rescue homes across the country. With a simple swipe-based interface and a quick personalised pet quiz, the app makes it easier than ever to give a rescue animal a safe and loving home.
Second place was the DigDrum, a digging enrichment device from Petosu; and in third place, was HayPigs’ Build Your Own Guinea Pig Village.
Nigel Baker, PIF CEO, said: ‘The Innovation Award is always one of the highlights of the Business of Pets Conference, and provides a glimpse into the future of our sector and recognising businesses that are developing exciting solutions to real-world challenges.
‘Congratulations to our winner and to all the finalists who delivered pitches during the conference, and demonstrated the innovation, passion and ambition that continue to drive the pet industry forward.’
The award formed part of a packed conference programme. Delegates heard expert insight from NielsenIQ on UK pet spending trends, PwC on consumer sentiment and spending outlooks, the UK Small Business Commissioner on tackling late payments and a range of speakers covering leadership, investment, recruitment, marketing, AI and cyber security.
PIF would like to thank Worldpay, headline sponsor of the event, along with all speakers, finalists and delegates who helped make the 2026 Business of Pets Conference such a success.
The next Business of Pest conference is scheduled to take place on 9 & 10 June 2027. Find out more here
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Dan Everett