Workplace Charging Scheme UK 2026: Employer Guide

What Is the Workplace Charging Scheme?

The Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS) helps eligible organisations with the cost of workplace chargepoints. It is an OZEV grant, but the current rules, application route and deadline matter more than the familiar scheme name.

For installations completed from 1 April 2026, the grant covers up to 75% of eligible purchase and installation costs, capped at £500 per socket. Each applicant can claim for up to 40 sockets across all sites, so the theoretical ceiling is £20,000. The scheme is in its final published year and runs to 31 March 2027. Read the current GOV.UK WCS guidance.

This is separate from the residential OZEV grant, which provides up to £500 per socket for eligible renters and flat owners installing chargers at home. The two schemes target different settings and have different eligibility rules.

Who Is Eligible?

The scheme covers businesses, charities and public-sector organisations that meet the applicant and site rules. Common eligible settings include:

• A registered business (limited company, partnership, or LLP) with employees
• A charity registered with the Charity Commission (or equivalent in Scotland/NI)
• A public sector body (local authority, NHS trust, school, university, government department)
• A sole trader with a dedicated workplace separate from your home
• A small or medium enterprise (SME)

You are not eligible if:

• You are a sole trader or home worker installing a charger at your residence (see the residential OZEV grant instead)
• You are a domestic landlord installing chargers at a residential property
• Your organisation does not have dedicated off-street parking at the workplace
• The proposed location or use falls outside the current workplace criteria

The details change at the edges, especially for accommodation businesses, education sites and mixed-use premises. Check the live guidance before ordering equipment or starting work. The grant cannot be claimed retrospectively for a charger installed before the voucher route is followed.

How Much Can You Get?

The grant economics in brief:

Costs shown are indicative. Actual installation costs vary depending on the number of sockets, cable runs, electrical supply upgrades, and your location.

Remember the 75% cap: if one socket costs £400 to purchase and install, the grant covers at most £300, not the full £500. The per-socket ceiling only applies when the eligible cost is high enough.

Approved Charger Requirements

Chargers installed under the WCS must meet specific technical standards:

• Must be a dedicated EV chargepoint (not a standard 3-pin socket)
• Must have a minimum power rating of 3.5 kW
• Must have smart functionality -- capable of being remotely controlled, receiving and reacting to signals, and transmitting data about energy consumption
• Must meet the Electric Vehicles (Smart Charge Points) Regulations 2021
• Must be installed by an OZEV-authorised installer

Do not infer commercial approval from a product being smart or from it appearing in our residential charger comparison. Confirm the exact model on the current OZEV commercial list before ordering.

Choosing Workplace Hardware

Our reviews focus on domestic charging. A one- or two-bay staff installation may use similar hardware, but a workplace decision also needs load management, user access, reporting, maintenance and sometimes billing. For a larger deployment, start with the site design rather than a consumer product ranking.

For Small Workplaces (2-5 Sockets)

Shortlist only models approved for the scheme and suited to the required access and reporting. A domestic tariff feature is not a substitute for commercial load management or auditable usage records.

For Medium-to-Large Workplaces (5-40 Sockets)

Larger installations normally need commercial-grade units, managed power allocation and a back-office platform. These are outside our home-charger comparison. Use the official OZEV installer finder and ask each bidder to state the approved model, electrical scope, software costs and maintenance terms.

Key Features to Prioritise for Workplaces

• Load management -- essential when running multiple chargers to avoid exceeding your electrical supply capacity
• User authentication (RFID, app, or PIN) -- so you can control who uses the chargers
• Energy monitoring and reporting -- for cost allocation, expense tracking, and sustainability reporting
• Back-office integration -- for larger deployments, the ability to bill employees or visitors for usage

How to Apply

The current sequence is important:

1. Confirm eligibility and apply for the voucher. The applicant uses the government grant route before installation. Do not let work begin on the assumption that a grant can be added later.

2. Find an OZEV-authorised installer. Use the official register, then get a site survey and itemised quote. Confirm that the exact charger model is on the approved commercial list.

3. Give the voucher to the chosen installer. The installer uses it for the eligible work and must follow the scheme's evidence and technical requirements.

4. Complete the installation within the voucher and scheme deadlines. Keep the quote, invoice, electrical certificates, model details and any evidence the organisation may need for audit.

5. The installer claims after completion. The installer submits the required evidence and claims the grant against the voucher.

Timescales depend on survey work, supply capacity, network involvement, equipment and installer availability. Ask bidders for a project-specific programme.

Tax Implications for Employers

Tax treatment is separate from WCS eligibility. It can differ for company cars, personal cars, workplace electricity, home-charging reimbursement and capital expenditure. Use current HMRC guidance and have payroll or a tax adviser confirm the treatment for your arrangement. Our company-car home-charging guide explains the questions to ask, but it is not a substitute for advice.

WCS vs the Residential OZEV Grant

It is worth understanding how the two main EV charger grants differ:

An organisation can claim both grants for different locations -- for example, the WCS for office chargers and the residential grant for a director's home (if they are an eligible renter or flat owner). See our full OZEV grant guide for residential eligibility details.

Making the Business Case

The numbers to take to the board or finance team:

Build the case from the proposed site rather than generic savings:

• Demand: how many regular users need a dependable session, and at what times?
• Capacity: what can the existing supply support, and what does managed charging avoid or defer?
• Operations: who can use the chargers, how is access controlled, and who responds when one fails?
• Energy: what is the organisation's actual electricity price and likely charging schedule?
• Growth: can the design add sockets later without repeating the groundworks?
• Cost: compare the grant-adjusted total, software subscriptions and maintenance over the expected life.

Key Deadlines

The current scheme is published as a final extension to 31 March 2027. A voucher and installation each have conditions and time limits, so check the live page for the dates that apply to your project.

Next Steps

1. Assess demand -- survey your employees to understand how many drive or plan to drive EVs
2. Review your electrical supply -- your facilities team or an electrician can confirm your available capacity
3. Check the live scheme guidance and apply for the voucher before work starts
4. Use the official OZEV installer finder and compare itemised commercial proposals

For home charging needs, see our full charger comparison or installation cost guide.

Find an OZEV-authorised installer | Compare home chargers | OZEV residential grant guide