Workplace Charging Scheme

What Is the Workplace Charging Scheme?

The Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS) is a UK government voucher-based grant that helps businesses, charities, and public sector organisations install electric vehicle chargers at their premises. Administered by OZEV (the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles), the scheme provides up to £350 per charging socket, with a maximum of 40 sockets per applicant — a potential saving of up to £14,000.

Unlike the residential OZEV chargepoint grant, the WCS is specifically designed for workplace and commercial settings. The chargers must be for use by staff, fleet vehicles, or visitors to your premises — not for public charging (that falls under the separate LEVI scheme).

Who Can Apply?

The WCS is available to a broad range of organisations:

• Businesses of any size — from SMEs to large corporates, including limited companies, partnerships, and LLPs
• Registered charities — with a registered charity number
• Public sector organisations — NHS trusts, local authorities, government departments, schools, universities
• Franchise operations — each franchisee can apply separately

Sole traders can apply, but only if they operate from commercial premises — not from a residential address. If you work from home, you'd need to apply under the residential EV charger grant scheme instead (if eligible).

How Much Can You Save?

The maths is straightforward:

• Per socket: Up to £350 (or 75% of the purchase and installation cost, whichever is lower)
• Per applicant: Maximum 40 sockets across all your sites
• Maximum total: £14,000 per applicant

For a typical four-bay workplace installation costing £8,000–£12,000 before the grant, the WCS reduces the bill by £1,400. For larger rollouts — say a 20-bay car park installation — savings reach £7,000.

What the Grant Covers

The WCS covers the cost of the charger unit itself and its installation. This includes electrical work such as cabling from the distribution board to the charging point, protective devices, and commissioning. However, it does not cover:

• DNO (Distribution Network Operator) supply upgrades
• Civil works like trenching or groundwork for car park installations
• Ongoing maintenance or software subscriptions

Charger Requirements

WCS-funded chargers must meet specific criteria:

• Smart charging capability — the charger must support off-peak scheduling and load management
• Minimum 3.5kW output — though most workplace chargers are 7kW (single-phase) or 22kW (three-phase)
• Dedicated parking — each charger must have an associated parking space
• OZEV-approved installer — installation must be carried out by an installer listed on the OZEV approved register

Types of Workplace Charger

AC Chargers (7–22kW)

Best for workplaces where vehicles are parked for several hours — offices, depots, and staff car parks. A 7kW charger adds approximately 30 miles of range per hour. 22kW three-phase units suit workplaces with shorter parking durations. Most WCS installations use AC chargers due to their lower cost and simpler electrical requirements.

DC Rapid Chargers (50kW+)

Designed for high-turnover locations where vehicles need a fast top-up — logistics depots, fleet hubs, and visitor parking. DC chargers deliver 100+ miles of range in 30 minutes but cost significantly more to install and typically require a three-phase supply upgrade. DC chargers are WCS-eligible but the £350 per socket makes less impact on their higher total cost.

Load Management

For multi-bay installations, smart load management is essential. It distributes available electrical capacity across all connected chargers, preventing overload without expensive supply upgrades. Most commercial charger brands (Easee, Alfen, EVBox) include built-in load balancing for workplace deployments.

How to Apply

1. Register on the OZEV portal — create an account at gov.uk and apply for your WCS voucher
2. Receive your voucher code — this is emailed within 5 working days in most cases
3. Choose an OZEV-approved installer — like UK Electrical Installers
4. Share your voucher code — your installer enters the code when submitting the installation claim
5. Grant is deducted from your invoice — you only pay the balance after the WCS discount

Vouchers are valid for 180 days from issue. If your installation isn't completed within this window, the voucher expires and you'll need to reapply.

Planning and Practical Considerations

Landlord Consent

If you lease your premises, you'll need written consent from the property owner before installing chargers. Most commercial landlords welcome EV infrastructure as it increases the property's appeal to tenants, but get the agreement in writing before ordering equipment.

Planning Permission

Standard wall-mounted chargers rarely require planning permission. However, ground-mounted units with protective bollards, freestanding charger totems, or installations in conservation areas or listed buildings may need approval. Check with your local planning authority before proceeding.

Electrical Capacity

This is the most common stumbling block. A single 7kW charger draws roughly the same as a large oven. Ten chargers draw the same as a small factory. Before committing to a large installation, we carry out a full electrical capacity assessment to determine whether your existing supply can handle the additional load — or whether a DNO upgrade is needed.

The Business Case for Workplace Charging

Beyond the WCS grant, workplace EV charging delivers measurable business value:

• Employee retention and recruitment — EV charging is increasingly expected as a workplace benefit, particularly in competitive hiring markets
• Fleet fuel cost reduction — electricity costs roughly 5p per mile versus 15p per mile for diesel
• Corporate sustainability targets — demonstrable emission reductions for ESG reporting and B Corp certification
• Business rates exemption — dedicated EV charging equipment is exempt from business rates until 2035
• Capital allowances — charge point installations qualify for 100% first-year capital allowances under the Annual Investment Allowance

Ready to explore workplace charging for your organisation? Request a free site assessment and we'll advise on the optimal charger setup, handle your WCS application, and deliver a professional installation.