Understanding the Workplace Charging Scheme

• Funding allocation: Businesses can claim up to 75 percent of the total installation cost, capped at £350 per socket.
• Voucher limits: Each applicant can apply for up to 40 sockets across their sites.
• Coverage: Available across the UK, with some exceptions for remote areas.
• Duration: The scheme is ongoing but subject to annual review. Applying early ensures access to available funding.
• Qualifying period:
  • Opening date: 1 April 2022, 12:01am (Midnight)
  • Closing date: 31 March 2026, 11:59pm (Midnight)

To qualify, applicants must be registered UK businesses, public sector bodies, or charities. Applicants must demonstrate dedicated off-street parking facilities for staff or fleets.

• SMEs benefit from simplified requirements, provided they show intent to transition their staff or fleet to EVs.
• Public sector organisations can apply for multiple sites, supporting wider regional EV adoption.
• Fleet operators must show evidence of current or planned EV integration within their vehicles.
   

Applicants must prepare evidence including:

• Proof of company registration
• Ownership or long-term lease of parking facilities
• Documentation showing EV adoption plans for fleets
• Installer accreditation documentation for compliance

The WCS supports a defined list of OZEV-approved charge point models. Zaptec Go 2, along with original Go and our Pro models, are fully compliant and optimised for workplace installations.

Key features of Zaptec Go 2:

• MID-certified for accurate energy measurement
• OCPP-compliant for network integration and scalability
• Vehicle-to-grid (V2G) ready to support future energy balancing
• Solar-smart capabilities for integration with renewable generation
• 99.9 percent uptime, ensuring operational reliability

Application Procedure

The WCS application is straightforward: gather your company and site details, confirm you have eligible off-street parking, and submit before any installation begins. Follow these steps to get your vouchers issued smoothly:

1. Register on the WCS online portal
2. Provide business information and upload documentation
3. Apply for voucher codes prior to installation
4. Assign vouchers to OZEV-approved installers

Voucher Management

Once issued, vouchers are time-bound and must be monitored so projects stay on track. Keep an eye on expiry dates and coordinate closely with your installer:

• Vouchers are valid for six months
• Extensions can be requested if projects are delayed
• Vouchers are redeemed by installers once the installation is complete
   

WCS requires that all charge points are installed by OZEV-approved partners. Zaptec maintains a network of trusted installers who understand the specific requirements of housing developers, councils, and fleet operators. 

Our 6 simple checks include:

• OZEV authorisation and up‑to‑date insurance.
• Electrical accreditation (e.g., NICEIC/NAPIT) and EV charge‑point competence.
• Relevant case studies (depots, car parks, residential blocks).
• Load management plan (how they’ll avoid overload and allow future growth).
• Civils capability (trenching, reinstatement, bay lining) and DNO liaison.
• Support & SLAs (response times, spares, remote monitoring).

Your authorised OZEV installer will take care of the install, site survey and other technical requirements but as a business, we recommend considering the following before going ahead with your install.

• Internal prep, involving a project lead, any permissions you need from landlords or site owners and drafting charging policies.
• Power downtime, during the installation the power may need to be temporarily disconnected. Make sure you plan for outage windows and continuity measures if needed.
• Site access for your contractor, including parking, deliveries, permits and escorts for restricted areas.

Having these things ready in advance means that on the install day, everything runs smoothly and your new chargers will be ready to go as soon as they’re installed.

Post-Installation

Once your OZEV‑approved installer has commissioned the chargers, you’ll need a small set of documents and evidence to finalise the Workplace Charging Scheme claim and stay audit‑ready. 

• Photographic evidence (per socket): a close‑up showing the charger make/model and serial number, plus a wider shot that clearly shows the unit in its off‑street parking location.
• Certificates of compliance & commissioning: Electrical Installation Certificate (or MEIWC where applicable), test results, commissioning sheet, and any DNO notification/approval if required.
• Warranties & service: manufacturer warranty terms and installer workmanship warranty, plus your support/SLA details and the correct contact route for faults.
• (Optional but helpful) Register of assets: list of charger serial numbers and locations/bay numbers to match the photo set.

Tip: Store these items with the voucher emails, claim confirmation and invoices in a single folder so they’re easy to retrieve for any future audit.
 

The Workplace Charging Scheme lowers upfront CAPEX, but you’ll still want clarity on what’s funded, how the grant is applied, VAT handling, and a simple way to frame ROI. Keep this alongside your quotes and voucher emails.

• What’s covered & limits: Contribution to hardware + installation (ex‑VAT) up to 75%, capped at £350 per socket (max 40 sockets per applicant). The discount is applied by your installer after they redeem your vouchers.
• Grant payment flow (cash‑flow): Apply → receive vouchers → assign to OZEV‑authorised installer → works completed → installer redeems → your invoice shows the grant deducted. Keep voucher emails, claim confirmation and itemised invoices.
• Eligible vs ineligible: 
  • Eligible: chargepoint hardware, standard accessories/backplates, installation labour, cable/containment, protection devices, testing/commissioning, board works tied to the chargers. 
  • Not eligible: broader civils (resurfacing/kerbs/canopies), bay lining/signage/bollards, back‑office subscriptions, SIM/data, maintenance, electricity, unrelated upgrades.
• VAT: The grant applies to ex‑VAT costs. You pay VAT on the invoiced balance as normal; if VAT‑registered you may recover input VAT (subject to partial exemption rules). Charities/public bodies should confirm recovery with finance.
• Combine with other funding: The EV Infrastructure Grant (for SMEs) can sit alongside WCS at the same site (not the same socket). Also consider local net‑zero/air‑quality funds and capital allowances—confirm rules with your accountant.

Tip: Ask installers to split quotes into OZEV‑claimable vs non‑claimable lines so finance can price scenarios quickly.

Participants must maintain records for audit, including usage data and installation documentation. Non-compliance risks repayment of grants. Zaptec’s dashboard, alongside the post-installation documents, provides the data reporting capabilities organisations need for ongoing compliance and insight.

Find out more about the Workplace Charging Scheme here.

Zaptec provides more than just a charger. For housing providers, we ensure compliance, cost-certainty, and a future-proofed infrastructure. For fleets, we secure uptime, operational reliability, and the ability to integrate with grid and solar systems. Combined with the Workplace Charging Scheme, it allows organisations to adopt EVs confidently while managing costs and risks.