If you run a business and haven’t looked into government grants for electric vehicle (EV) charge points already, you’re not alone. Our survey of Leicestershire companies this year found that 85% of those interviewed had no idea that the funding existed at all.
The Government has been running grant schemes for workplace EV charge point installations for years, but the vast majority of local businesses responding to our survey had never come across them. Meanwhile, those grants have just gotten bigger.
So, what’s actually changed with the Workplace Charging Scheme?
The Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) has confirmed that five EV charge point grant schemes will continue until March 2027, and from 1st April 2026, the maximum grant rate for workplace and home installations was set to increase from £350 to £500 per socket. For a business putting in, say, four charge points, that’s up to £2,000 back.
The schemes that will continue include the Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS), a grant for state-funded education institutions, support for residential landlords and options for households without off-street parking. So, if you own commercial premises, rent out property or manage a site with staff parking, there’s a reasonable chance something here applies to you.
What this means in practice for businesses looking to install chargepoints?
It’s not often we get to say that grants are going up, so this is a rare piece of good news. But it only works if people actually know about it. For a business that has been considering EV charging but putting it off, the timing is about as good as it gets right now.
For companies that have already started an application under the current system, there’s a choice to make. You can reapply from 1st April under the new process at the higher £500 rate, though your existing application will be cancelled and reassessed. Or you can stick with your original application at £350, as long as the installation is completed and the claim submitted before the current portal closes on 26 May 2026. Neither option is wrong, but it’s worth knowing the difference before you decide.
EV charging schemes that have closed
Not everything is being extended. Three schemes were set to be closed permanently on 31 March 2026: the staff and fleets grant, the commercial landlord charge point grant and the residential landlord infrastructure grant.
From 1st April, the current OZEV portal is also being replaced by a new “Find a Grant” service. The process will change slightly, with applicants registering and applying directly rather than going through their installer. Worth knowing if you were planning to act soon.
One other specific note for schools and colleges: the grant rate for state-funded education institutions is actually decreasing, from £2,500 to £2,000 per socket from 1st April. If your institution has an application already in progress, the higher rate is still available provided vouchers are redeemed before 30 September 2026.
Your installer will handle the EV grant applications
You do not need to have everything figured out before speaking to an installer, but a few basics will make the conversation quicker. It helps to know whether you own or lease your premises, as this affects which schemes you can access and may mean you need landlord permission before anything progresses. Have a rough sense of your parking situation too, whether that is a dedicated car park, on-street spaces or a shared facility, as this will shape what is available to you and how an installation would work in practice.
On the technical side, don’t worry if you do not know your electrical setup in detail. An installer can assess that during a site visit. Just have a loose idea of how many charge points you are considering and who will be using them. It does not need to be a firm plan; it just gives the conversation a useful starting point.
Not sure if you’re eligible for EV grants?
If you’re a business owner, landlord or facilities manager and you’re not sure whether any of these schemes apply to you, it’s worth having a conversation with an OZEV-registered installer now.
Glenfield Electrical are OZEV-approved and we’re happy to talk through eligibility without any obligation. You can get in touch with us via our contact page.