The 2026 Workplace Charging Scheme: How UK Businesses Get £500 Per Socket Off EV Chargers

The government just raised the Workplace Charging Scheme grant to £500 per socket — but the scheme is in its final year. Here's how UK businesses claim it before it closes.

The Workplace Charging Scheme just got more generous — and it's ending

If your business has off-street parking, the Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS) is the simplest EV-charging grant to claim — and as of 1 April 2026 it's worth more than ever: up to £500 per socket, up from £350.

The catch: the scheme has been extended for one final year, to 31 March 2027. After that, this funding route closes. Businesses that move now lock in the higher rate; those that wait risk missing it entirely.

What you actually get

The WCS covers 75% of the total purchase and installation cost of EV chargepoints (including VAT), capped at:

• £500 per socket (for installations completed on or after 1 April 2026)
• Up to 40 sockets across all your sites, per applicant

A worked example

Say you install 10 dual-socket chargers (20 sockets) at a head office and a depot. At the £500/socket cap, the grant contributes up to £10,000 toward the project — provided that stays within 75% of the total cost. That's before the operational upside: lower fleet fuel costs, charging available to staff, and a visible sustainability commitment for tenants, customers and recruits.

Who's eligible

To qualify you must:

• Be a registered business, charity, or public-sector organisation
• Have dedicated off-street parking for staff and/or fleet use
• Own the property, or have landlord consent to install
• Stay within subsidy limits (minimal financial assistance / de minimis thresholds)

How to claim

The WCS is voucher-based and must be claimed through an OZEV-authorised installer — you can't apply to the government directly. In practice this is where businesses get stuck: choosing compliant hardware, sizing the install to your parking, and handling the voucher paperwork correctly.

Energy Partners manages the entire process end to end — grant capture included — with £0 upfront through grant funding, nationwide deployment, and installs typically completed in around 4 weeks.

→ Check which grants your site qualifies for in 60 seconds

What changed in 2026 (and what closed)

Two things shifted this year:

1. WCS rate rose from £350 to £500 per socket on 1 April 2026, and the scheme was extended a final year to 31 March 2027.
2. The separate EV Infrastructure Grant for Staff and Fleets (which covered 75% up to £15,000) closed to applications on 31 March 2026, with final claims ending 26 May 2026. It is no longer available — so the WCS is now the main workplace charging grant still open.

Frequently asked questions

How much is the Workplace Charging Scheme worth in 2026? Up to £500 per socket for installations completed on or after 1 April 2026 (previously £350), covering 75% of purchase and installation costs, for up to 40 sockets across all your sites.

When does the Workplace Charging Scheme end? It has been extended for a final year and closes on 31 March 2027.

Can I apply for the WCS myself? No — it must be claimed through an OZEV-authorised installer. Energy Partners handles the application and installation for you.

Is the EV Infrastructure Grant for staff and fleets still available? No. Applications closed on 31 March 2026 and final claims closed on 26 May 2026.

The bottom line

At £500 per socket, the WCS is the best-value workplace EV grant currently available — but with a hard close in March 2027, it rewards businesses that act early. Check your eligibility today.

Grant figures verified against GOV.UK as of June 2026. Scheme terms can change — confirm current rates before applying.