Your Employees Are Going Electric. Is Your Car Park Ready?

The Workplace Charging Scheme grants are changing in April 2026. Here's why UK businesses should act now to install EV chargers, and the financial, tax, and brand benefits of doing so.

If you've been putting off installing EV chargers at your workplace, consider this your wake-up call. The UK's Zero Emission Vehicle mandate now requires that 33% of all new cars sold in 2026 are electric, rising to 80% by 2030. Your employees, customers, and visitors are going electric whether you're ready or not. The question isn't whether your business needs workplace charging. It's how soon you can get it installed.

The Workplace Charging Scheme: Use It or Lose It

The government's Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS) helps businesses, charities, and public sector organisations cover the cost of installing EV chargers. Here's what you can claim:

• Up to 75% of purchase and installation costs (including VAT)

• Capped at £500 per socket from 1 April 2026 (up from £350)

• Up to 40 sockets per applicant across all sites

That means a single business could receive up to £20,000 in grant support towards workplace EV charging infrastructure. For many organisations, that's enough to cover the majority of a multi-charger installation.

However, funding for the scheme is confirmed only until March 2027 following the latest extension. No replacement scheme has been announced. If you've been "thinking about it," the next few months are your window to act.

The Financial Case for Workplace Charging

Beyond the grant, the financial benefits stack up:

• 100% first-year capital allowances. Businesses can deduct the full cost of EV charger installation from their taxable profits in the year of purchase (extended to April 2027 for income tax purposes).

• No benefit-in-kind tax. Providing workplace charging for employees who use EVs is not a taxable benefit, which is a genuine perk for your staff.

• Lower fleet running costs. If your business operates vehicles, EVs charged on-site using a smart tariff cost a fraction of diesel or petrol.

• Revenue opportunity. Some businesses offer paid charging to visitors and customers, creating an additional income stream.

The Employee Attraction and Retention Angle

In a competitive job market, workplace charging is increasingly seen as a meaningful employee benefit. For staff who can't charge at home (renters, flat dwellers, those without driveways), workplace charging can be the difference between being able to own an EV or not.

It also sends a clear signal about your company's values. Sustainability isn't just a buzzword. It's a deciding factor for a growing number of employees and customers when choosing who to work for and who to buy from.

The ZEV Mandate Is Driving Demand

The UK's Zero Emission Vehicle mandate is accelerating the shift to electric at pace:

YearNew Car ZEV Target202422%202528%202633%203080%2035100%

Manufacturers who fall short face fines of £15,000 per non-compliant vehicle. This means more EVs are being produced, priced more competitively, and sold in greater numbers. The cars are coming. The only question is whether the charging infrastructure at your business is ready.

What Does a Workplace Installation Look Like?

A typical workplace installation involves:

1. Site survey. We assess your car park layout, electrical capacity, and usage requirements.

1. Charger selection. From simple 7kW units for staff who park all day, to 22kW fast chargers for customer-facing sites.

1. Load management. Smart load balancing ensures multiple chargers can operate without overloading your supply.

1. Installation. Our OZEV-approved engineers handle everything, typically completing a multi-charger install in 1 to 2 days.

1. App setup and management. Usage monitoring, access control, and billing can all be managed via the charger's app.

How Plug In Stations Can Help

We've worked with businesses of all sizes, from independent restaurants and hotels to large commercial operations. We manage the entire process, including WCS grant applications, so you get maximum funding with minimum hassle.

With the grant increasing to £500 per socket from April 2026 and the scheme's future uncertain beyond March 2027, there's never been a better, or more urgent, time to invest in workplace EV charging.

Want to install workplace EV chargers? Contact Plug In Stations for a free site survey.

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