What is the Workplace Charging Scheme and Who is Eligible?

Workplace Charging Scheme at a Glance:

For many of our commercial clients, the Workplace Charging Scheme grant is one of the easiest and most affordable ways to future-proof their premises. With more electric vehicles on UK roads every year and employees increasingly expecting workplace charging facilities as a work perk, taking advantage of the grant now can will seriously reduce costs while preparing your business for the future.

The Workplace Charging Scheme grant covers up to 75% of eligible costs, up to £500 per charging socket.

You can claim funding for up to 40 charging sockets across all of their sites, which is a potential total grant of £20,000 towards your purchase and installation costs.

It’s important to remember that the workplace EV charging grant is awarded per charging socket, not per charging unit. So, a dual-socket charger may qualify for funding on both sockets, provided it meets the scheme’s eligibility requirements.

What Does the Workplace Charging Scheme Cover?

The grant contributes towards many of the costs involved in installing workplace EV chargers, not just the initial purchase cost.

The exact costs covered will vary depending on your installation, so it’s always worth discussing your site requirements with an OZEV-authorised installer before applying.

Fortunately, we’re OZEV-authorised installers! Get in touch with our experts today, and we’ll talk you through your options for commercial EV charging points.

What Could Your Business Actually Pay?

The final cost depends on the number of chargers you need, the type of chargers you choose, the distance between the chargers and your electrical supply, and whether your existing electrical infrastructure needs upgrading.

The table below shows how the workplace EV charging grant can reduce installation costs in typical scenarios.

*Figures are illustrative only. Every workplace installation is different, and final costs will depend on your property, electrical capacity and charger specification.

Although the Workplace Charging Scheme grant won’t cover the full cost of a workplace charging installation, it makes a substantial difference to your overall investment. Combined with the long-term savings of charging company vehicles on-site and the growing demand for employee charging, it’s one of the most affordable options to expand into workplace EV charging in the UK.

Charities and Public Sector Organisations

The Workplace Charging Scheme grant isn’t limited to private businesses. Registered charities and certain educational institutions may also be eligible, provided they meet the scheme’s requirements.

• Local authorities
• NHS organisations
• Schools and colleges
• Community organisations
• Emergency services
• Other publicly funded organisations with eligible parking facilities

Your Premises Must Have Dedicated Off-Street Parking

One of the main eligibility criteria is that the charge points must be installed in dedicated off-street parking spaces associated with your organisation.

This could include:

• Employee car parks
• Customer parking areas
• Fleet vehicle parking
• Private staff parking
• Business-owned parking facilities

Public on-street parking is not eligible under the scheme, so if you don’t have your own car park, you won’t be able to get the workplace EV charging grant.

What If You Lease Your Premises?

The good news is you don’t have to own your building to qualify.

Businesses operating from leased or rented premises can still apply for the Workplace EV Charging Grant, provided they have permission from the landlord to install the charge points.

It’s worth securing written consent from your landlord before submitting your application to help avoid delays later in the process.

Eligibility Checklist for the Workplace Charging Scheme

Your organisation is likely to qualify if you can answer yes to most of the following:

• You’re a registered business, charity or eligible public sector organisation.
• You have dedicated off-street parking.
• The chargers will be installed at your workplace.
• You plan to use an OZEV-authorised installer.
• You haven’t exceeded the maximum number of grant-funded sockets available under the scheme.
• You have permission from the property owner if you lease the premises.

If you’re still unsure whether you qualify, our EV installers are here to help. They can assess your site, explain how the Workplace Charging Scheme grant applies to your project, and help ensure your application meets the latest OZEV requirements from the outset.

Applying for the Workplace Charging Scheme is relatively straightforward, but the order is important. One of the most common mistakes we see businesses make is arranging installation before their grant application has been approved, which can affect their eligibility for funding.

Step 1: Check Your Eligibility

Before applying, confirm that your organisation meets the Workplace Charging Scheme requirements. Remember, you’ll need dedicated off-street parking, an eligible organisation type, and a plan to have the chargers installed by an OZEV-authorised installer.

If you’re leasing your premises, make sure you’ve got written permission from your landlord before starting your application.

Step 2: Submit Your Grant Application

Applications are completed online through the UK Government. You’ll be asked to provide details about your organisation and the premises where the chargers will be installed.

Once approved, you’ll receive a grant voucher confirming the amount of funding available.

Step 3: Choose an OZEV-Authorised Installer

After receiving your voucher, now it’s time to arrange your installation with an OZEV-authorised installer! If you go with our team at Pro EV, we’ll carry out a site survey, recommend the most suitable charger locations, assess your electrical capacity, and provide a full quote based on your requirements.

This is also the ideal stage to think about future expansion. If you expect your business to add more electric vehicles over the coming years, installing the right infrastructure now will save you time and money later.

Our engineers are happy to answer any questions you have and walk you through the best options for your business to make sure you get the most out of the Workplace Charging Scheme grant money.

How Long Does the Process Take?

While every project is different, a typical Workplace Charging Scheme installation follows a similar timeline:

Starting the application before booking your installation is the best way to avoid delays and ensure your project remains eligible for funding.

And working with our experienced installers makes the process much smoother. We’ll handle everything from checking your eligibility through to completing the paperwork and installing your workplace EV chargers.

All of our commercial clients have slightly different EV charging needs, and the right EV charger for your business depends on who will be using it, how long vehicles are typically parked for, and whether you’re planning for future growth.

We usually recommend a combination of charger types that provides the greatest flexibility. Employees who leave their cars parked all day have very different charging needs from visitors stopping for an hour or company vehicles that need to get back on the road quickly.

7kW Chargers: The Best Choice for Most Workplaces

7kW smart chargers are the all-round most practical option. Because employees usually park for several hours, there’s no need for ultra-fast charging. A 7kW charger can comfortably replenish most of an EV’s battery during a working day while keeping installation costs lower than the higher-powered alternatives.

They’re also compatible with the vast majority of electric vehicles on UK roads, so they’re a great long-term investment for businesses providing staff charging.

22kW Chargers: Ideal for Visitors and High-Turnover Sites

If your customers or visitors only stay for a short period, 22kW chargers may be a better fit.

We often install 22kW EV chargers at hotels, leisure centers, retail parks, and large commercial premises with high volume customer traffic.

It’s worth noting that not every electric vehicle can accept 22kW AC charging, so charging speeds will vary depending on the vehicle.

Smart Charging Makes Managing Multiple Vehicles Easier

Modern workplace chargers offer far more than a simple supply of electricity. Smart charging features now allow businesses to:

• Schedule charging outside peak demand periods
• Monitor energy usage across multiple chargers
• Control who can access each charge point
• Generate usage reports
• Integrate with payment systems for visitor charging
• Balance electricity demand across several chargers

These features become increasingly valuable as your workplace charging infrastructure grows, and can help your investment pay off sooner.

If you’re thinking about installing EV chargers at your business, you’d be amiss not to apply for the Workplace Charging Scheme. It’s a great opportunity to reduce installation costs and save a fortune on future-proofing your premises.

Support Employees Who Drive Electric Vehicles

As EV ownership continues to increase, more and more employees are looking for workplaces that offer convenient charging facilities. Being able to plug in while at work removes the need to rely solely on public charging networks and can make owning an electric vehicle more practical.

Offering workplace charging is a valuable employee benefit, helping your organisation attract the best staff while supporting those who have already made the switch to electric driving.

Reduce Fleet Running Costs

If your business operates electric company cars or vans, charging them on-site is far more convenient and cost-effective than relying on public rapid chargers.

Combined with smart charging features, you can schedule charging during periods of lower electricity demand, helping to manage energy costs and keep fleet vehicles ready for the next working day.

Strengthen Your Sustainability Goals

Many organisations have environmental targets or broader ESG commitments. Installing workplace EV chargers shows a visible commitment to reducing transport emissions while encouraging employees, visitors and fleet drivers to choose lower-emission vehicles.

For businesses tendering for contracts or working with environmentally conscious customers, investing in EV charging infrastructure is a great way to strengthen your sustainability credentials and brand image.

Future-Proof Your Premises

The transition to electric vehicles is well underway, and demand for workplace charging is expected to grow over the coming years. Installing charging infrastructure now will help your business stay ahead of increasing demand rather than reacting later when more employees and customers already require access.

Our engineers will talk to you about future-proofing your EV charger set-up, you can be sure your business is ready now and for the future of electric vehicles.

There are a few common pitfalls of the Workplace Charging Scheme that we urge our clients to avoid. Any of these can delay your application and leave your business paying more than necessary, so it’s best to know them in advance.

Installing Chargers Before Your Grant Is Approved

We see so many businesses attempting to get the installation process underway before receiving their Workplace Charging Scheme voucher.

Although it can feel like you’re saving time by getting ahead of the game, starting work too early can affect your eligibility for the grant and might even leave you responsible for the full EV installation cost.

Choosing a Non-OZEV Authorised Installer

The Workplace EV Charging Grant can only be claimed when the installation is carried out by an OZEV-authorised installer.

Not all EV installers are approved, and using one that’s not means your project won’t be eligible for funding.

At Pro EV, we’re OZEV-authorised installers, so you can be sure you’re safe with our qualified engineers.

Installing Too Few Chargers

When the budget is tight, you might think it’s best to go for as few chargers as possible. Especially if your current EV charging needs aren’t that demanding.

However, if several employees already drive electric or your company cars are EVs, your usage is almost guaranteed to increase over the coming years. As your fleet expands and more people go electric, you’ll need more charging points than the bare minimum you could cope with today.

Planning for future expansion now may seem more costly, but you’ll get full advantage of the Workplace Charging Scheme grant, and you’ll avoid the need for costly upgrades later.

Overlooking Your Electrical Capacity

Not every commercial property has the spare electrical capacity to support multiple EV chargers immediately.

Our professional site surveys assess your existing electrical supply and identify whether upgrades, load balancing or other smart charging solutions are needed. Addressing these requirements early means you can avoid unexpected costs and delays during installation.

Forgetting to Obtain Landlord Permission

If your business operates from leased premises, you’ll need written permission from the property owner before EV chargers can be installed.

There’s nothing worse than getting to the end of approval, only to realise your landlord was never happy with EV chargers being installed on their property in the first place. Get that approval ASAP to keep your business covered.

Missing Voucher Deadlines

Workplace Charging Scheme vouchers are only valid for a limited period. Waiting too long to arrange your installation could mean the voucher expires before the work is completed, and then you’d need to apply all over again.

As soon as you get your WCS approval, reach out and let our team know and we’ll get the ball rolling for you to make sure your voucher deadline doesn’t come and go.

Choosing the right installation partner is the most important step of the process. They’re the ones who will make sure your charging infrastructure is safe, reliable, and built around the unique needs of your business, now and in the future.

At Pro EV, we specialise in commercial EV charging installations for businesses across the UK. Whether you’re installing a single charger for employees or planning a larger rollout across multiple sites, we’ll help you find the right solution for your premises and budget.

Why Businesses Choose Pro EV

• OZEV-authorised commercial EV charger installations
• Workplace charging solutions tailored to your business
• Smart chargers with load balancing and energy management
• Advice on future-proofing your charging infrastructure
• Professional installation by experienced engineers
• Ongoing support after installation

Whatever your EV charging needs, we have the solution for your business. From your initial Workplace Charging Scheme application right through to post-installation support, we’re here every step of the way.

Get in touch with Pro EV today for expert advice and a no-obligation quote. We’ll help you choose the right chargers, guide you through the Workplace Charging Scheme, and deliver a professional installation that keeps your business moving forward.