Press clipping is taken from the © Evening Gazette, Friday, April 27th, 2012.

Installation of the cattery for the Saltburn Animal Rescue Association was completed on the 20th April and is already attracting the attention of the press.

Purrfect for Moggies Like Me….(Click the image below to enlarge)

A note to tell you how delighted we are…

For more information on the Saltburn Animal Rescue Association please visit their page on our site: www.pedigreepens.co.uk/rescue-pens/photos/saltburn-animal-rescue-association/ 

Rural Economy Grant (REG)

The Rural Economy Grant (REG) provides grants to enable a significant ‘game-changing’, transformational performance in farm, forestry, tourism, agri-food businesses and micro businesses in rural areas in England.

The £60 million REG has been established in response to the findings of Defra’s Rural Economy Growth Review (launched in November 2011), which through consultation and an in-depth analysis of a broad range of research, identified large grants (of £25,000 up to circa £1 million) are needed in key business sectors to unlock significant rural economic growth potential.

Please note that support for farming, forestry, tourism, and agri-food businesses (large or small) is available in any rural location (as defined in the Applicant Handbook and appendices below), but support for micro-businesses in other sectors is limited to Rural Growth Network areas only. Project applications will need to demonstrate that as a result of a grant their business will achieve a significant step change in performance (such as job creation, increased turnover, access to new markets etc).

The REG application process is competitive and those projects offering the greatest return on grant investment will be more likely to be successful.

How to Apply

The application process includes two stages:

Stage 1 Outline Application ROUND 1 TO BE SUBMITTED BY 5.00 pm on the 30 April 2012

This initial stage allows you to provide us with an outline of your project, detailing how you anticipate it will fit with the overall aims of the appropriate theme (farm competiveness, agri-food, tourism, forestry, and micro-enterprise), the need and demand for the investment, and benefits of your project.

Please submit your outline application - (both e-mailed electronic copy and hardcopy) by no later than 5.00pm on the 30th April 2012.

To help you complete your application, we strongly advise you read the following handbook guidance and relevant theme appendix for your project;

• REG Applicant Handbook
• Farm Competiveness - Nutrient Management Appendix
• Farm Competitiveness - Animal Health and Welfare Appendix
• Farm Competitiveness - Water Resource Management Appendix
• Tourism Appendix
• Forestry Appendix
• Agri-Food Technical Appendix
• Rural Growth Network Micro Enterprise Appendix – to be added when Rural Growth Network areas announced in March 2012.

Following submission, your application will be primarily assessed/ scored against the following key criteria:

• Eligibility and capability of applicant;
• Fit with theme priorities (please see section 7 of the Applicant Handbook) and eligibility of activity;
• Value for money (including an assessment of need/ demand); and
• Deliverability (in terms of ability to raise required match finance, implement within the RDPE programme period, and comply with state aid).

Following this assessment a decision will be made as to whether your project may proceed to the Full application stage. We aim to notify all applicants of the outcome of their outline application within 8 weeks of the end of the application round.

Failure to submit all of the required information (electronic and hardcopy) with your project application by 5pm on the 30th April 2012 will result in your outline application being rejected.

If you are thinking about submitting an Outline application or have any questions about REG we strongly advise you to contact your local RDPE Delivery Team to discuss your project ideas.

Stage 2 Full Application

If your Outline application is endorsed, you will be invited to submit a Full application. The Full application is a more in-depth stage – requiring the submission of a full business case / business plan and supporting evidence to demonstrate the need and demand, impact, value for money and deliverability of your project and how it will make a game changing difference to your business and local economy. You will also need to provide three like-for-like quotations for all project costs.

Prior to submitting your Full application you will need to receive any relevant, required statutory approvals in order for your project to progress, such as planning permission.

If you are invited to proceed to Full Application you will be asked to identify a target date for submission of your Full Application and all associated supporting evidence. Failure to meet your target Full application submission date may result in your outline endorsement being withdrawn.

Who Can Apply?

The following businesses across England are eligible to apply (please see section 7 of the Applicant Handbook for further details):

• Farmers
• Rural based enterprises
• Forestry contractors
• Woodland owners
• Horticultural businesses
• Rural Growth Networks
• Not for Profit/ Companies Limited by Guarantee

Please remember that the selection process for REG is competitive and applications will be appraised against one another. This means that there is no guarantee of success and not all projects which are eligible will necessarily be awarded a grant.

The Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) aims to improve competitiveness in the agriculture and forestry sector; safeguard and enhance the rural environment; foster competitive and sustainable rural businesses and thriving rural communities.

What do you want to do?

• Learn what RDPE is, how it is managed and delivered
• Apply for funding – learn about the grants available and how to apply for them on the RDPE Network pages
• Latest news across the Programme
• What’s on? – Find out about what events and activities are going on and how you can get involved.

Government consults on delivery of EU funds

The Government has recently launched a consultation on how the next round of EU structural funds, rural development and maritime and fisheries can work together to support sustainable, environmental, social and economic restructuring. The current funding period will close at the end of 2013 and the next period will begin in 2014, subject to completion of negotiations.

• Read the press release

We encourage all interested in the future delivery of these funds to respond to this consultation.  Please note that this consultation will close on 27 April 2012.

• See the consultation

Defra takes the lead on RDPE delivery

Since taking over responsibility for the delivery of the RDPE socio-economic elements, through the newly established RDPE delivery teams, Defra is providing a stronger lead on the priorities for delivery. In particular, Defra has refocused remaining socio-economic resources (circa £100 million) of RDPE at meeting the priorities of the Rural Economic Growth Review.

Following the launch of the Rural Economic Growth Review (29^th November 2011), the following grant schemes are or will be available.

Available NOW

The £60 million Rural Economy Grant (REG) scheme provides large grants of between £25,000 and circa £1 million (no set upper limit) to enable a significant ‘game-changing’, transformational performance in farm, forestry, tourism, agri-food businesses and micro businesses in rural areas in England.  Project applications will need to demonstrate that as a result of a grant their business will achieve a significant step change in performance (such as job creation, increased turnover, access to new markets etc).

• Further information

TO BE LAUNCHED, with information available in due course:

The dates of the next application rounds for both the Farm and Forestry Improvement Scheme (small grants of between £2,500 and £25,000), and the Rural Community Broadband Fund (grants to establish Superfast Broadband in hard to reach locations) are due to be announced in the spring 2012.

Skills and Knowledge Transfer (up to £20 million) – a flexible and locally targetable skills training programme to enable rural business growth. The fund will to be launched in the Autumn 2012 following completion of existing local skills programmes.

• Read the press release

An additional £3m will support schemes to improve footpaths and access, skills training for new entrants to the forestry workforce, and developing tourism support building on those being piloted by a leading AONB in the South East. The timing of the launch of these initiatives is to be confirmed.

FINANCE HAS NEVER BEEN SO EASY

• NO CAPITAL OUTLAY **
• TAX EFFICIENT SYSTEM
• EASY BUDGETING
• ADDITIONAL LINE OF CREDIT
• FIXED COSTS

** Following 25% deposit with confirmed order 

Lease UK in association with Pedigree Pens Ltd can often arrange finance for their Boarding Catteries.  As specialist Finance Brokers, with access to over a dozen funders of high repute, you will always be assured of a competitive rate and a complete absence of bureaucracy.

Lease UK will personally take over all the arrangements for you, steering your transaction through the ‘red tape’ and completing all the necessary documentation, liasing with the Supplier and Funder alike, to ensure a smooth speedy transaction, leaving you free to get on with your practice.

e.g.,  LEASING ILLUSTRATION BASED ON £12,000 + VAT

ON A 5 YEAR, NO DEPOSIT LEASE AGREEMENT

FOR A VAT REGISTERED,UKTAX PAYING LTD CO

The rentals above are excluding VAT and payable monthly in advance by Direct Debit.  100% of the rental can be offset against tax as a business expense.  VAT on the monthly payments can usually be recovered in the usual way.

For further information, contact Tim Gammon at LeaseUK

Tim Gammon and LeaseUKare licensed intermediaries under the Consumer Credit Act and their business is introduced to funders of high repute, subject to acceptance.

These facilities are for business purposes only.

LEASE YOUR PEDIGREE PENS CATTERY…

Leasing is not a second rate alternative to paying by Cash!  It is often the very best way to acquire the up to date assets you need; a fact appreciated by some discerning buyers, to mention a few: -

A recent survey conducted for the UK Leasing Industry found that….

95% of The Times Top 100 Companies, and

85% of all Accountants, and

80% of Local Authorities inEngland&Wales

….regularly take advantage of the benefits of leasing, to acquire a wide range of assets.  This is no accident or coincidence.

WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES?

• No Capital Outlay

“Cash is King” it is said, a maxim fully recognised by the practise of leasing, which removes the need to tie up cash resources in a rapidly depreciating asset; freeing-up capital that may be better invested elsewhere in your business.  Leasing allows you to treat the acquisition of new equipment as revenue, rather than as a capital expense.

• Increased Profitability

Each and every asset acquired for your business demands a payback.  By deferring the acquisition costs, leasing new equipment is an ideal way to accelerate the return on your investment.

• Maximum Tax Allowances

Under a leasing agreement the total amount of all rentals payable can be fully offset against your Corporation Tax liability in each financial year.  This uniquely enables you to write off the full costs of acquiring new equipment over its expected working life (perhaps only 3 years for high tech. Equipment).

Compare this for Tax purposes to outright purchase, which only permits Writing Down Allowances on a Reducing Balance basis, and it will take 7 years to write off 90% of the same acquisition costs (even if you qualify for a 50% First Year Allowance under the Government’s current S.M.E Scheme)!

It may be for this single reason alone, that over a third of all capital equipment purchased in the UK is now leased.

• Ease of Budgeting

Unlike some other forms of finance, where interest rates fluctuate, leasing rentals are fixed for the duration of the agreement.  This allows you to budget in complete confidence that costs will not escalate.

• Another Line of Credit

Our leasing facilities are dedicated to the equipment concerned and no other form of security is normally required.  Our facilities are likely to be outside your existing borrowing capabilities and therefore represent a very useful additional source of finance.

• Easy to Upgrade

The valuable working life of many assets can be hard to predict.  Given the pace of technology advancements, any finance arrangement must be flexible enough to accommodate these developments.  Our leasing companies therefore expect and anticipate the need to provide you with replacement or additional equipment and will gladly quote the rental for a new Agreement, which will automatically extinguish the liabilities under the existing arrangement.

Read more by clicking here or Contact Tim Gammon at Lease UK for more information.

As featured in the Garden Room Guide: www.thegardenroomguide.co.uk

Office and Garden Room

Our buildings are available to the general public as stand-alone rooms or make the perfect addition for cattery or kennel owners.

About our Rooms….

Constructed to the same exacting standards as our catteries, the rooms are built using the finest of materials:

* 70mm PVCu framework

* Heat Reflective Athermic 16mm Polycarbonate Roofing.

* Fully Insulated Walls Containing 28mm High Gloss Panel.

* Fully Insulated Ceiling Containing 28mm High Gloss Panel with Cavity Above.

* x 2 Leaded Top Opening Windows Containing Double Glazed Toughened Safety Glass.

* Multi-point Locking Entrance Door Containing 28mm High Gloss Panel with Leaded Double Glazed Unit to Top.

Finishes…

We have a range of finishes available upon request:

* A Choice of 5 Different Colour Options for the Panels (please note: the PVCu Framework remains white).

* A Choice of 2 Woodgrain-on-White Finishes to the Panel and PVCu Framework. Choose from either Mahogany on White or Light-Oak on White.

For more information and prices on our finishes, please Contact Us

Sizes and Prices…

Our standard rooms are available in 3 sizes but we can manufacture to bespoke sizes if required:

Sizes and Prices for Office Room in White

* Measurements in ft and in are approximate.

Please Contact Us for prices of our colour panels and woodgrain frame and panel options

Delivery and installation is typically c. 13% of the cost but may vary depending upon your location.

A level concrete base should be provided prior to installation. The base should stand c. 75mm (3 inches) into the ground and 75mm (3 inches) above and have a damp proof membrane.

For more information please Contact Us

Our Plans are Ideal For:

• Submitting to planning
• Visualising your plans
• Realising what will work best for you

To purchase our plans please get in touch with us via our Contact us page or alternatively tel: (01684) 299567

Print off & use our checklist to help you find the ideal cattery & you can rest, knowing that your cat will be safe & in good hands.

Click the link below to print off our checklist or “right-click” and the hit “Save target as…” to download

Don’t be afraid to ask questions!

A good cattery owner/staff will perfectly understand your concerns & should be happy to answer all your questions to your satisfaction.

How to find a good cattery

• View boarding catteries with Pedigree Pens facilities
• Ask friends, colleagues & neighbours for their recommendations
• Ask your veterinary surgeon
• Yellow pages - but don’t just choose the nearest, look around!
• Local newspapers & cat magazines

How to choose a good cattery

You have to visit catteries to really get a feel for the right one for you & your cat.

• Make an appointment, don’t just turn up and disrupt meal & cleaning times!
• Ask to look around. If they say ‘no’ – don’t board your cat there.

Health & Safety Checklist:

Environment & Stress Checklist:

Remember :-

• book well in advance as good catteries get booked up quickly.
• you must take your cats vaccination records with you or you will not be able to board your cat

This is not only because of customer demands, but also to comply with the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health Model Licence Regulations (see our CIEH page) and the proposed Animal Welfare Bill.

To this end, we recommend that our boarding catteries are installed as small and exclusive developments (ideally 10 to 35 double size pens) and are focused towards the more discerning cat ownerwho is prepared to pay a premium for quality services.

As a guide, two of our recent installations have opened at £10 and £16 per cat, per day

This strategy is important in order to market and establish your business correctly.

Serious direct competition is unlikely to exist, although there is certain to be a boarding cattery within your local area which is likely to be of a much lower standard.

About Pedigree Pens | FAQs

Choosing the Right Cattery

Pedigree Pens (FirmFix) were one of the original sponsors of the CIEH Model Licence Committee.

This committee decided that all boarding accommodation must be constructed to meet minimum standards.
They produced guidelines which every UK local authority & their local boarding establishments should adhere to.
You can download a copy of the guidelines online.

Our materials – Safety & Hygiene :

Consequently, all our materials are impervious, thus minimising the risk of the spread of feline diseases.

Materials used include:

• PVCu framework
• insulated high gloss panelling
• safety glass
• multi-wall heat reflective polycarbonate roofing
• rigid 1″ square galvanised steel mesh for extra strength & security

The use of these materials eliminates the need for regular treatment. The pens cannot rot, are easy to wipe clean & are very secure. View our Materials Comparison page for further information.

Perhaps the most important feature of PVCu is that it is self-extinguishing should it be exposed to fire.

Read our FAQs (frequently asked questions) to learn about our prices, delivery, installation, materials, safety & hygiene.