Workplace Charging Scheme UK 2026: What Employers Need to Know

What Is the Workplace Charging Scheme?

The Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS) is a UK government grant that helps businesses, charities, and public sector organisations install electric vehicle chargepoints at their premises. Administered by the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV), the scheme covers part of the cost of purchasing and installing EV chargers at workplaces across the UK.

The grant provides up to £350 per socket, capped at 75% of the total purchase and installation cost. Each applicant can claim for up to 40 sockets, giving a potential total grant of £14,000 per organisation.

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 WCS is available to a broad range of organisations. You can apply if you are:

• 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) -- there is no minimum size requirement

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
• You are applying for chargers that will be publicly accessible on a pay-to-use basis (these fall under a separate LEVI or local authority scheme)

The chargers must be installed at a workplace where your staff or fleet vehicles park. You need dedicated off-street parking -- a public car park or on-street space does not qualify.

How Much Can You Get?

Here is a quick breakdown of the grant economics:

*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 a single socket costs £400 to purchase and install, the grant covers £300 (75% of £400), not the full £350. The £350 cap only applies when 75% of the cost exceeds £350.

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

Most modern 7 kW workplace chargers from established brands meet these requirements. For a full comparison of chargers that meet these standards, see our charger comparison page.

Best Chargers for Workplaces

While our site focuses on home charging, many of the same chargers are suitable for small-to-medium workplace installations. Here are the best options for employer use:

For Small Workplaces (2-5 Sockets)

Ohme Home Pro and Hypervolt Home 3 Pro are strong choices for small businesses. Both offer smart functionality, app-based monitoring, and the ability to track energy usage per session -- useful for allocating electricity costs. The Ohme's smart tariff integration is particularly valuable if you want to minimise energy bills by charging fleet vehicles during off-peak hours.

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

For larger installations, you will typically move to commercial-grade units from manufacturers like Alfen, Easee, or Project EV, which offer load management across multiple chargers, RFID access control, and back-office billing platforms. These are beyond the scope of our home charger reviews, but your installer can advise on the best commercial solution for your site.

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 application process is straightforward:

1. Choose an OZEV-authorised installer. The installer must be registered with OZEV to process WCS claims. They handle the paperwork. You can get free quotes from approved installers through our service.

2. Get a site survey and quote. The installer will assess your premises, recommend charger locations, and provide a detailed quote showing the total cost and the WCS grant deduction.

3. The installer applies on your behalf. Unlike some grants where you apply directly, the WCS application is submitted by the installer through the OZEV portal. You will need to provide business details and confirm eligibility.

4. Installation goes ahead. Once approved (typically within a few days), the installer completes the work. The grant is deducted from your invoice -- you only pay the balance.

5. Post-installation. The installer submits completion evidence to OZEV and receives the grant payment directly. You do not need to claim anything back.

The whole process from first enquiry to working chargers typically takes 2-6 weeks, depending on the complexity of the installation and your electrical supply.

Tax Implications for Employers

There are several tax considerations that make workplace charging attractive:

No BIK on Workplace Charging

Electricity provided by an employer for charging at the workplace is exempt from Benefit in Kind tax. This means:

• Employees can charge their personal EVs at work without any tax liability
• Company car drivers can charge at work without any additional BIK beyond the standard company car BIK rate
• This exemption has been confirmed through at least 2027/28

This is a significant perk. For an employee charging at work five days a week, the annual electricity value could be £300-500 -- all completely tax-free.

Capital Allowances

The cost of purchasing and installing workplace chargers (net of the WCS grant) qualifies for capital allowances. Under the Annual Investment Allowance (AIA), businesses can deduct 100% of the cost from taxable profits in the year of purchase, up to the £1 million AIA limit.

For a 10-socket installation costing £10,000 (after the £3,500 WCS grant = £6,500 net cost), a business paying 25% corporation tax would save £1,625 in tax through capital allowances -- on top of the £3,500 grant.

Running Costs

The ongoing electricity cost of running workplace chargers is a deductible business expense, reducing your corporation tax or income tax bill.

Comparison with Home Charging Reimbursement

Some employers choose to reimburse employees for home charging instead of (or alongside) workplace chargers. HMRC allows tax-free reimbursement at 7p per mile for home charging. For a detailed breakdown of how this works, see our guide on charging a company car at home.

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

If you are trying to convince your board or finance team, here are the key numbers:

Direct savings: The WCS grant covers up to £14,000 of installation costs. Capital allowances save a further 19-25% on the remaining cost (depending on your tax rate).

Employee attraction and retention: With over 1 million EVs on UK roads and the 2035 petrol/diesel ban approaching, workplace charging is increasingly expected by employees. A 2025 BVRLA survey found that 67% of employees would consider workplace charging availability when choosing an employer.

Fuel cost savings for fleet vehicles: Charging fleet EVs at the workplace on a business electricity tariff (typically 15-20p/kWh) costs roughly 5-6p per mile. Compare that to 16-18p per mile for petrol -- a saving of over 60%.

Sustainability reporting: Workplace chargers demonstrate tangible progress on Scope 1 and 2 emissions, increasingly required for ESG reporting and public sector procurement.

Key Deadlines

The Workplace Charging Scheme is currently open with no confirmed end date, but government grants can be withdrawn or modified with relatively short notice. The residential OZEV grant has been extended to March 2027, and the WCS is expected to continue alongside it -- but if you are planning a workplace installation, applying sooner rather than later locks in the current grant terms.

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. Get free quotes from approved installers -- compare prices and recommendations for your specific site
4. Apply -- your chosen installer handles the WCS application on your behalf

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

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