Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS) Grant
The Workplace Charging Scheme is the government grant that pays toward EV chargepoints at business premises. It is worth up to £350 per socket, capped at 40 sockets across all your sites, and it covers up to 75% of the purchase and installation cost. For a business putting in ten dual socket chargers, that is up to £7,000 off the bill.
We supply WCS-eligible chargers from Rolec, Easee, VCHRGD, EVEC and others, from £469, with free UK delivery and trade pricing on multi-unit orders.
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How much is the Workplace Charging Scheme worth?
The grant covers 75% of the total purchase and installation cost, up to £350 for each socket you install, with a limit of 40 sockets per applicant across all sites. Two things follow from that. First, a dual socket charger counts as two sockets — so one unit can attract up to £700, which is usually what makes dual units the better value on a multi-bay site. Second, the 75% rule means the grant is capped by your actual spend on cheaper installations: if a socket costs £400 all-in, you get £300, not £350.
| Installation | Sockets | Maximum grant |
|---|---|---|
| 2 single socket chargers | 2 | £700 |
| 2 dual socket chargers | 4 | £1,400 |
| 5 dual socket chargers | 10 | £3,500 |
| 10 dual socket chargers | 20 | £7,000 |
| 20 dual socket chargers | 40 (cap) | £14,000 |
Who is eligible for the WCS grant?
The scheme is open to businesses, charities and public sector organisations. You need dedicated off-street parking, and you need to be able to show either existing EV use among staff or fleet, or a stated intent to encourage it — which in practice most employers can. The chargepoints must be for staff or fleet use rather than public pay-per-use charging, and they must be installed by an OZEV-authorised installer. Small businesses and sole traders can apply; you do not need to own the property, but you do need the landlord's permission where you lease it.
How do you apply?
You apply first and install second — getting that order wrong is the most common way businesses lose the money. You submit an application, receive a voucher code, and then give that code to your OZEV-authorised installer, who redeems it and deducts the grant from your invoice. The voucher has a limited validity window, so line up your installer before you apply rather than after. You never pay the full amount and claim it back; the discount is applied at the point of installation.
Chargers that make the grant go furthest
Because the grant is paid per socket, dual socket units return up to £700 each — and cost less to install per bay, since one cable run and one excavation serves two. These are the units our business customers buy most.
View all dual socket chargers →
Which EV chargers qualify for the WCS?
The chargepoint has to be on the government's approved list, which in practice means a smart charger that can be remotely controlled, records energy use and supports scheduled charging. Every commercial charger we stock meets that standard — including the full Rolec BasicCharge and Securicharge ranges, Easee 22kW and Charge Pro, the VCHRGD TwentyTwo, and the Evec pedestal range from £1,120.
WCS or the EV chargepoint grant — which applies to me?
They are different schemes for different situations. The Workplace Charging Scheme is for business premises, staff and fleet. The EV chargepoint grant is the domestic scheme, worth up to £350 off a home installation for renters, flat owners and landlords with off-street parking. If you run a business from home, the domestic grant is usually the relevant one. If you have a commercial site with a car park, it is the WCS. There are also separate grants aimed at landlords and residential car parks — see our guide for landlords and flats.
What the grant does not cover
The WCS covers the chargepoint and its installation. It does not cover a supply upgrade if your incoming capacity is not sufficient, and that is where commercial EV projects most often exceed budget. Before committing to a socket count, have the available capacity assessed — in many cases load management will let you install more charge points within your existing supply rather than paying the distribution network operator for reinforcement. It also does not cover ongoing costs such as back office subscriptions or payment terminal fees.
Talk to us about your site
We supply EV chargers to businesses, installers and facilities teams across the UK, with free delivery and trade pricing on multi-unit orders. If you are working out how many bays to fit, what your supply will carry, or which chargers make the grant go furthest, we will help you scope it.
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We also carry out installations across Southampton and the New Forest, and work with trusted installers elsewhere in the country.