Updated 6 May 2026 — £500 per socket confirmed until 31 March 2027
OZEV Workplace Charging Scheme — £500 × 40 Sockets
UK businesses, charities, and public-sector organisations can claim up to £500 per workplace socket × 40 sockets across all sites — total claim up to £20,000. Independent guide to eligibility, application, and ROI for fleet and employee charging.
Who qualifies for the Workplace Charging Scheme?
The OZEV Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS) subsidises EV chargepoints at the premises of businesses, charities, and public-sector organisations. The aim is to support fleet electrification and employee EV charging at work. Unlike the consumer-facing schemes, WCS targets organisations rather than individuals — and the application path is correspondingly simpler.
Eligible applicants
- UK-registered businesses — limited companies, LLPs, partnerships
- Charities — registered with the Charity Commission (or Scottish/Welsh equivalents)
- Public sector organisations — local authorities, NHS trusts, government departments, fire/police services
- Sole traders — must be VAT-registered or otherwise able to demonstrate business operation at the premises
- Community interest companies and social enterprises
Property requirements
- The chargers must be at the organisation's own premises (owned or leased)
- There must be dedicated off-street parking for the chargepoints
- Parking must be for use of staff, fleet vehicles, or visitors — not public-access general parking
- The location must be in the UK
Schools and education — different scheme
State-funded schools, colleges, and universities qualify for the separate Workplace Charging Scheme for State-Funded Education Institutions, which is more generous: £2,000 per socket × 40 sockets max. Same application portal, different scheme code.
Not eligible under workplace
- Residential properties (use the renters/flat owners or landlord schemes instead)
- Employee homes (no scheme covers employer-funded home chargers under OZEV; consider salary sacrifice instead)
- Public on-street locations (use ORCS via your local council)
- Holiday parks, hotels, retail car parks (use the public chargepoint commercial schemes from Innovate UK or commercial CPO partnerships)
Grant amount and worked example
How the grant is calculated
- Up to £500 per socket installed
- Covers 75% of the combined cost of chargepoint hardware and installation
- Maximum 40 sockets per applicant organisation across all sites
- Total maximum claim: £20,000
Worked example: 25-employee SME with mixed staff/fleet parking
| 10 × OZEV-approved 7 kW dual-socket smart chargers (20 sockets) | £14,000 |
| Installation, electrical works, mounting posts | £8,000 |
| Subtotal | £22,000 |
| Workplace Charging grant (20 × £500) | −£10,000 |
| Net cost to business | £12,000 |
The 75% rule means the grant is fully utilised when per-socket cost exceeds £667. For 7 kW commercial-grade chargers (£700–£1,000 fitted per socket), £500/socket is always achievable in practice.
Application process — 5 steps
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Step 1 — Confirm organisation eligibility
Verify your organisation type (Ltd, LLP, charity, public sector, VAT-registered sole trader). Have your Companies House number, VAT number, or charity registration number to hand.
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Step 2 — Survey your site
Identify available off-street parking spaces and existing electrical capacity. For 10+ sockets, you typically need a dedicated supply assessment. Most installers do this free as part of quoting.
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Step 3 — Choose an OZEV-accredited installer with WCS experience
Common workplace specialists: Rolec EV, EO Charging, Mer (Statkraft), Pod Point Business, ChargePoint, Mer Connect. Get quotes from at least three. Workplace installations are more electrical-engineering-heavy than residential, so installer expertise matters more.
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Step 4 — Application via the WCS portal
Your installer submits the WCS application via the GOV.UK portal. Approval typically takes 4–6 weeks, faster than residential schemes because business applications are more standardised.
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Step 5 — Installation and grant settlement
Installation typically takes 1–4 weeks depending on scale (single-day for 2-socket office; 2-3 days for 20-socket fleet site). Grant credits to your installer who deducts from your invoice.
Workplace vs. Landlord — which scheme to use
The most common confusion: when does a property fall under workplace versus landlord schemes? Use this table.
| Property type | Use scheme | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Office building, your business premises | Workplace | Used by your staff, your premises |
| Block of flats you let to tenants | Landlord | Residential rental, used by tenants |
| Mixed-use: shop downstairs, flats above | Both (split) | Workplace for shop parking, Landlord for flat parking |
| School staff car park | Education (£2,000) | State-funded education institution |
| Charity head office | Workplace | Charities qualify under workplace |
| Council housing | Landlord (council as social landlord) | Residential rental tenancy |
| NHS hospital staff parking | Workplace (public sector) | Public sector organisation |
| HMO with shared car park | Landlord | Residential tenancy |
If your situation involves both workplace and landlord elements (typical for mixed-use property), you can apply to both schemes for different parts of the property. A single property cannot double-claim — each socket counts to one scheme only.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the OZEV Workplace Charging Scheme grant?
Up to £500 per socket × 40 sockets max = £20,000 maximum per organisation. The grant covers 75% of charger and installation cost, capped at £500 per socket.
Who can apply for workplace charging grants?
UK-registered businesses, charities, public-sector organisations. The chargers must be at the organisation's own premises with dedicated off-street parking for staff, fleet, or visitor use.
Can a school apply for workplace charging?
State-funded schools have a separate, more generous scheme: £2,000 per socket × 40 sockets across all sites. Independent schools use the standard Workplace Charging Scheme.
Can I claim for chargers at employee homes?
No. The workplace scheme covers employer premises only. For home chargers used by employees, consider EV salary sacrifice schemes (which often include a home charger as a benefit) or have employees apply individually under the renters/flat owners scheme if they qualify.
Compare all 5 OZEV schemes
The eligibility checker compares renters, flat owners, on-street parking, landlords, and workplace in one quick decision tree.
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