Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS): The UK Employer's Guide
How the OZEV Workplace Charging Scheme works in 2025 — grant amounts, eligibility, application steps, and how to combine it with smart charging.
The Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS) is an OZEV-funded voucher that gives UK employers up to £350 per socket toward installing EV charge points at their site — capped at 40 sockets per applicant. It's one of the simplest commercial EV grants still open in 2025.
Who's eligible
- UK-registered businesses, charities and public sector organisations.
- You must own the site, or have landlord consent.
- Off-street parking dedicated to staff and/or fleet (not public).
- You can demonstrate a current or future need for EV charging.
How much you get
£350 per socket, up to 40 sockets per applicant — a maximum of £14,000. The grant pays toward the installed cost (hardware + install), not running costs. Sockets must be installed by an OZEV-authorised installer and use a model on the OZEV-approved list.
How to apply (5 steps)
- Apply online via the gov.uk WCS portal — you'll receive a voucher code valid for 6 months.
- Choose an OZEV-authorised installer (we work with several across the UK).
- Confirm hardware is on the OZEV-approved chargepoint list.
- Installer completes the works and submits a claim against your voucher.
- OZEV pays the grant directly to the installer, who deducts it from your invoice.
Stacking WCS with other support
WCS can usually be combined with the EV Infrastructure Grant for Staff and Fleets (up to £15,000 per site for the wider electrical infrastructure works — cabling, switchgear, civils), provided you're an SME and meet the infrastructure-grant criteria. The two grants cover different cost lines, so they shouldn't double-fund the same socket.
Design choices that maximise WCS value
- Smart, load-managed 7kW or 22kW AC — keeps you under the WCS cap per socket without overspending on hardware.
- OCPP-compliant hardware — protects you from CPO lock-in after the voucher is claimed.
- Plan for future bays — install ducting and switchgear capacity for the next phase, even if you only energise 8 bays today.
- Think about reimbursement — separate metering or a back-office that supports staff-paid charging avoids HMRC headaches.
Common mistakes
- Buying hardware before the voucher is issued — non-approved units don't qualify.
- Treating WCS as the whole funding plan — at £350/socket, it's a contribution, not a price cap.
- Letting an installer specify the cheapest unit on the approved list rather than the right one for your demand profile.
For an independent view on whether WCS + infrastructure grant covers your scheme, run the numbers in our free feasibility calculator or read our full UK grants guide.