Guide
Workplace Charging Scheme 2026: the £500 grant and how to fund the rest
The Workplace Charging Scheme is in its final year. It is a useful contribution, but on most commercial sites it covers a small slice of the real cost. This guide sets out what the grant pays, who qualifies, and how the remaining cost is normally funded.
Written by Tom Chandler, Power and Energy Finance Specialist · Updated October 2026
The short version
- The grant covers up to 75% of purchase and installation costs, capped at £500 per socket for installations completed on or after 1 April 2026.
- Each applicant can claim for up to 40 sockets across all of its sites.
- The scheme has been extended for a final year and closes on 31 March 2027.
- Businesses, charities, public sector bodies and small accommodation businesses can apply, across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
- On a typical workplace project the grant is a fraction of the bill, so plan the funding for the balance at the same time.
What the Workplace Charging Scheme pays in 2026
The scheme is run by the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles. It contributes up to 75% of the cost of buying and installing chargepoints, including VAT, capped at £500 per socket. The cap rose from £350 on 1 April 2026, and the higher rate applies to installations completed on or after that date regardless of when the application was made.
Applicants can claim for up to 40 sockets across all of their sites. State-funded schools and colleges have a separate version of the scheme at a higher rate per socket.
| Item | Current position |
|---|---|
| Maximum grant | 75% of costs, capped at £500 per socket |
| Installations completed before 1 April 2026 | Capped at £350 per socket |
| Socket limit | 40 sockets per applicant across all sites |
| Who can apply | Businesses, charities, public sector bodies, small accommodation businesses |
| Where | England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland |
| Closing date | 31 March 2027 |
Who qualifies
You need off-street parking clearly associated with your premises, and you must own the site or have the landlord's consent. Chargepoints must be installed by an OZEV-authorised installer, who normally claims the grant on your behalf once the installation is complete.
Rules on detail, such as which chargepoint models qualify and what evidence the installer must submit, are set in the GOV.UK guidance and can change. Your installer should confirm eligibility before work starts.
- Confirm site ownership or landlord consent first.
- Use an OZEV-authorised installer and ask them to confirm the claim in writing.
- Time completion inside the scheme window. Installations completed after 31 March 2027 will not qualify.
The grant is the small part of the bill
At £500 a socket, a 20 socket workplace installation attracts up to £10,000. The same project, once groundworks, cabling, switchgear and commissioning are included, will often cost several times that. Where rapid chargers or a supply upgrade are involved, the grant becomes a rounding error.
That is why we look at the grant and the funding together. The grant reduces the amount to fund; it rarely removes the need to fund.
Figures on this page are indicative ranges drawn from UK market pricing we see across quotes and funder appetite. They are illustrations, not quotations, and every project prices on its own scope, site and credit profile.
How businesses fund the balance
The installed cost after grant can normally sit inside a hire purchase or finance lease facility over three to seven years. Chargers, cabling, containment, switchgear, groundworks and commissioning are generally fundable. DNO connection charges usually sit outside the facility because they buy a connection rather than an asset.
Because the grant is paid after completion, the installer's invoice and the grant claim need lining up. We agree that sequence with the installer and the funder before work starts, so nobody is left carrying the gap.
Where this applies
FAQs
Common questions
The questions that come up most often on this subject.
How much is the Workplace Charging Scheme grant in 2026?
Up to 75% of purchase and installation costs, capped at £500 per socket, for installations completed on or after 1 April 2026. Installations completed before that date were capped at £350 per socket.
When does the Workplace Charging Scheme end?
It has been extended for a final year and closes on 31 March 2027. Plan installation completion comfortably before then.
How many chargepoints can a business claim for?
Up to 40 sockets per applicant across all of its sites.
Can I use the grant and asset finance together?
Yes. The grant reduces the cost, and the balance of the installed project can normally be funded on hire purchase or lease. The timing of the grant payment needs agreeing with the installer and funder upfront.
Is the Workplace Charging Scheme available in Scotland and Northern Ireland?
Yes. It covers England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, but not the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man.