Workplace Charging Scheme

What: £500 per socket, capped at 75% of cost.

Cap: 40 sockets in total per applicant, across one or more sites.

Who: Registered businesses, charities, public-sector organisations, small accommodation businesses (hotels, B&Bs, campsites). UK-wide; Channel Islands and Isle of Man excluded.

Subsidy control: Subject to a £315,000 Minimal Financial Assistance cap over three financial years (Subsidy Control Act 2022). Public authorities are exempt.

When: Apply before installation. Voucher valid 180 days. Grant ends 31 March 2027.

WCS is a voucher scheme. You apply, OZEV issues a voucher, the voucher is valid for 180 days, the installer redeems it once the chargers are commissioned. The voucher belongs to the applicant - your installer can’t apply on your behalf.

The £500 rate applies to installations completed on or after 1 April 2026, regardless of when the voucher was issued. If you have a £350-rate voucher and the install is completed after 1 April 2026, the higher rate applies automatically. If the installation is completed before 1 April 2026, the £350 rate applies.

You qualify if your organisation is:

• A registered business (Companies House registration or VAT-registered).
• A charity registered with the relevant regulator (Charity Commission, OSCR, or NI Charity Commission).
• A public-sector organisation.
• A small accommodation business - hotels, B&Bs, campsites, holiday parks. This category covers most hospitality businesses where guest parking is core to the offer.

You need:

• Demonstrable existing or future need for EV charging. For example, staff EVs, a fleet, customer demand, or a stated transition plan.
• Designated off-street parking. Open-to-public chargers can be added out-of-hours, but the chargepoint can’t be primarily public; otherwise it falls under the Public Charge Point Regulations 2023 instead.
• Authority to apply on behalf of your organisation.

Two small details:

• A registered business operating from a home address may qualify if the address is registered at Companies House or shown on a non-domestic rates bill. The chargepoint must be from the commercial approved model list, as installing a residential model causes the claim to be rejected.
• Employer-installed at an employee’s home is only permitted for company-vehicle charging where the employee can’t charge at work and needs an employer-issued evidence letter.

1. Apply through gov.uk. The application is short: organisation type, evidence of registration, contact details, intended site address, planned charger count.
2. Receive your voucher (normally within 5 days). It’s valid for 180 days.
3. Get a quote from an OZEV-authorised installer, specifying a model from the OZEV-approved commercial list.
4. Install. The installer commissions and tests; you sign off on completion.
5. The installer redeems the voucher with OZEV/DVLA. Grant is paid to the installer who deducts it from your invoice.