How can you benefit from the UK’s Workplace Charging Scheme

UK businesses are playing a crucial role in accelerating the electric vehicle revolution whilst battling rising operating costs.

Recent industry data reports that a whopping 69.8% of electric car sales were instigated by workplace initiatives last year, including those from taxi firms and corporate fleets.

While this progress is encouraging, businesses opting for EV also need reliable and robust infrastructure (charge points, energy management software, etc.) to support their BHEV (Battery Hybrid Electric Vehicle) and BEV (Battery Electric Vehicle) users, as well as the funds to invest in the project themselves. 

The workplace ev charging scheme is pivotal in turning this into a reality. 

In this article, we unpick what support the scheme offers, guide you through the initial process, and highlight what real-world commercial benefit this provides businesses.

What is the Workplace Charging Scheme? 

The Workplace Charging Scheme is a government-funded, financial aid for businesses looking to install electric vehicle chargepoint sockets at their sites. With a successful application, businesses can receive: 

• Up to 75% off the total cost of purchase and installation charge points (capped at a maximum of £350 per socket) 
• Aid on up to 40 charge points

The workplace charge scheme is ultimately aimed at promoting the electrification of the UK by building a green economy and supporting businesses with green growth. 

For businesses needing support on up-front costs and installation fees, it can offer significant financial relief. 

Who can apply? 

The scheme is available to:

• Businesses
• Charities 
• Public sector organisations 
• Small accommodation businesses

However, it excludes car dealerships, locations outside of the United Kingdom, parking facilities solely for customer use, and parking facilities that are part of a domestic property (in this instance, you may want to apply for the EV Chargepoint Grant). 

Before applying, it’s also worth reading through additional business criteria. For instance, businesses:

• Must have received less than £200,000 worth of public support in the past 3 financial years. 
• Must declare a real need for EV charging equipment and encourage staff adoption.
• Have off-street parking dedicated for staff use.
• Own the site location or have consent from landlords to install charge points. 

This isn’t an exhaustive list of requirements so it's worth reading the scheme in detail before committing to an application. It's also  important to note that funding is confirmed until 31 March 2025, giving businesses less than a year to apply. 

What’s the benefit? 

Have many businesses already utilised the workplace car charging scheme? 

Given the economic instability of the past few years, the offer of financial support is obviously a huge win for businesses. International conflict, rising inflation, and the post-Covid environment has made it a more volatile environment for business growth.

31% of staff consider charge point availability at work a “must-have feature.”

Equally, the pressure to make green commercial decisions is intensifying. Those not investing now may find that their sustainability metrics don’t quite live up to industry, customer or employee standards. 

When it comes to your employees especially, supporting their needs and interests is the best way to retain talent. 

In a collaborative research project with Kantar, we found that 31% of staff considered charge point availability at work a “must-have feature” compared to only 8% claiming it had “No impact on my decision”. 

See the full results below. 

So, whether you are a growing CPO, fleet manager, or simply want to support your employees who drive EVs, investing in charge points should be a priority. 

How to apply for the Workplace Charging Scheme [step-by-step guide]

When it comes to government funding, there’s an impression that it’s often an overly bureaucratic process. 

However, in a turbulent economic climate, access to funds has become invaluable. Schemes like this can act as a needed diving board for companies on their growth journey. So, once you’ve decided this is the right direction for you, it’s time to start the process. 

Below, we break down the five essential steps to a successful application of the workplace charging scheme.  

1. Make sure you understand the scheme: Read the relevant online documents to make sure you fully understand how the scheme works, from business applicability to installation partners to ongoing site maintenance. You can read the government advice here. 
2. Ensure your site is viable for charge points: One thing that often gets overlooked is the electrical supply on your site. Ensure you have electrical capacity before you commit to the scheme - this can be done with a site survey. 
3. Figure out your installation and/or charge point software providers: One of the most important aspects of the process is choosing a trusted installation partner and back-end EV software to help manage your site. Having worked with a myriad of installers, we know the good from the bad!
4. Gather your application evidence: Before starting your application, make sure you have to hand:
   > Your Companies House reference number
   > A VAT registration number
   > A business rate (non-domestic) bill issued to you by your local council or by the Land and Property Services (LPS).
5. Submit your application: Once you feel informed about the scheme and have your evidence prepped, it’s time to submit your application. You can find the application form here. 

It’s important to note that if your application is successful, you’ll be issued a voucher that remains valid for 180 days. 

How to find Workplace Charging Scheme authorised installers

If and when your application is approved, your next course of action will likely be finding the right suppliers.

It’s not uncommon to feel overwhelmed at the prospect of finding a suitable charge point installer - it can feel like a maze trying to navigate the world of EV service providers. 

When it comes to installation, one thing to bear in mind is that your chosen company needs to be authorised to install EV charge points by OZEV.

For other EV services like smart back-end software, energy management, or customer support channels for drivers, companies like Virta can be a great option for customisable charging solutions. 

As a global pioneer in developing smart electric vehicle charging services, we offer innovative and cross-sector EV solutions. Find out more below.