As electric vehicles (EVs) continue to grow in popularity, businesses are feeling the pressure to keep up with the charging infrastructure needed to support this transition.
Of course, EVs offer significant environmental benefits, reducing harmful emissions and contributing to cleaner air for all.
For businesses, however, adopting EVs can also give you lower operational costs through reduced fuel expenses and demonstrate your commitment to sustainability, which can in turn enhance your brand’s reputation.
One of the easiest ways to introduce EV chargepoints at your workplace is through the Government’s Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS), which offers financial support to install EV chargers.
Whether you’re a small business, charity, or public sector organisation, this scheme could provide a great opportunity to future-proof your operations while contributing to a greener future.
However, you should always discuss these opportunities with a grants expert before proceeding with an application to check it’s right for you.
What is the Workplace Charging Scheme?
The Workplace Charging Scheme is a Government initiative designed to encourage organisations to install electric vehicle chargepoints on their premises.
The scheme covers up to 75 per cent of the purchase and installation costs of EV chargepoints, with a cap of £350 per socket and a maximum of 40 sockets across all sites for each applicant.
This means if you want to install chargepoints across multiple locations, you can apply for one socket per site, up to the limit.
The goal of the scheme is to accelerate the shift to EVs by removing financial barriers to installing chargepoints in places where they will be most useful – workplaces.
How does the grant work?
If your application is successful, you’ll receive a voucher to cover the grant amount, which can then be passed to an authorised installer.
The installer will claim the grant after completing the work.
Your business will only be responsible for covering the remaining costs that exceed the grant’s contribution.
This offers an efficient and cost-effective way to prepare your premises for EV charging, without needing to cover the full installation cost up front.
Is your business eligible?
To apply for the WCS, your organisation must meet certain criteria.
The scheme is open to businesses, charities, public sector bodies, and small accommodation providers, with specific requirements around property ownership and parking arrangements.
Here’s what you need to know about eligibility:
- Property ownership: You must either own the property where the chargepoints will be installed or have written consent from the landlord to carry out the installation.
- Parking: The site needs to have dedicated off-road parking clearly associated with your business premises. Importantly, this parking must be reserved for staff or fleet use—not for customers.
- Permission from landowners: If you don’t own the parking spaces, you’ll need permission from the landowner to install chargepoints.
- Business use: For businesses, chargepoints are intended for staff and fleet use. However, you can choose to allow local residents access to the chargers outside working hours.
If you run your business from a residential property, you can still apply for the WCS as long as your home is officially registered as your place of business.
You must also have off-road parking and use an authorised installer for chargepoints that meet both residential and commercial standards.
For charities, public authorities, and small accommodation businesses, there’s more flexibility in how the chargepoints can be used.
Parking spaces can be used by staff, customers, guests, or the public.
If you decide to make the chargepoints available to the public, you will need to comply with the Public Chargepoint Regulations 2023.
However, in all these situations, your business must not exceed the cap of £315,000 in Government financial assistance (across various state grants and subsidies) over three financial years.
This cap ensures that the scheme remains accessible to businesses of all sizes.
Supporting your business’s EV transition
Installing chargepoints through the Workplace Charging Scheme can make your business more attractive to employees, help you future proof your operations, and show that you’re serious about sustainability.
However, the process of applying for grants, complying with eligibility criteria, and selecting authorised installers can seem complex.
That’s where we come in.
As grant specialists, we can guide you through the application process, helping you to assess your eligibility, gather the required documentation, and maximise your chances of securing the funding your business needs to embrace the EV revolution.
Get in touch with us today for expert advice on how to apply for the Workplace Charging Scheme and other available grants.