Becoming a registered developer

This took a fair bit of time, whether Apple are snowed under with requests or just not that efficient, I don't know.

I think I chased this for a few weeks though, maybe a month or more even, come to think about it.
Basically you apply to register, then the good folks at Apple Incorporated request a few documents from you to prove you are
a>real
b>an existing company
c>incorporated
One of the documents is proof of company incorporation from companies house (UK), however my family firm didn't have this as we were first registered in 1946 and it was something obscure like the working companies register or something.  this really messed with Apple and they said it wasn't acceptable (at first!!!)

Finally they did accept it after a variety of additional proof of the company's existence and a number of emails with an increasing degree if imptaience reflected in the text on my part!

Anyhoo, all is good with those nice Apple folks as we were accepted and should receive the activation code within 24 hours...this was maybe 3 weeks ago.  3 emails in the last week and no reply so far.