💰 April 2026 Update: From 1 April 2026, the Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS) grant increases from £350 to £500 per socket, covering up to 40 sockets per applicant. The scheme has been extended until 31 March 2027. This means a small business installing 4 chargers could receive up to £2,000 in government funding towards the cost.
## Why Install Workplace EV Chargers?
Before we get into the how, let's address the why — because the business case goes beyond "it's good for the environment."
### 1. Employee Retention and Recruitment
EV ownership in the UK is accelerating rapidly. Over 473,000 electric cars were sold in 2025 alone, and EV market share is now 23.4% of new car sales. A growing proportion of your current and future employees will drive electric.
Workplace charging is becoming an expected perk — like cycle storage or free parking. Companies that offer it have a tangible advantage in hiring, particularly for roles where commuting is involved.
### 2. Company Car Tax Advantages
The UK government has set Benefit-in-Kind (BIK) tax rates for electric company cars at just **3% for 2025/26**, rising to 4% in 2027/28 and 5% in 2028/29. Compare that with petrol cars at 20–37% BIK. This makes electric company cars dramatically cheaper for both employer and employee — and workplace charging makes them practical.
For a £30,000 electric company car at 3% BIK, a basic-rate taxpayer pays just **£180 per year** in BIK tax. The same value petrol car at 30% BIK would cost **£1,800 per year**. That's a massive incentive to go electric — but employees need somewhere to charge.
### 3. Customer Experience
If you run a retail business, hotel, restaurant, or service centre, offering EV charging attracts a growing demographic of customers who actively seek out businesses with charge points. It increases dwell time (charging takes 30 minutes to a few hours) and signals that your business is forward-thinking.
### 4. Corporate Sustainability
Whether or not you have formal ESG targets, EV charging infrastructure demonstrates tangible commitment to sustainability. It's visible, measurable, and increasingly expected by customers, partners, and investors.
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## The Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS): Free Money for Your Business
The WCS is a UK government grant that covers up to **75% of the purchase and installation cost** of EV charge points at workplaces, capped at a maximum per socket.
### Key Details (From 1 April 2026)
| Detail | Current (Until 31 March 2026) | From 1 April 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum grant per socket | £350 | £500 |
| Maximum sockets per applicant | 40 | 40 |
| Maximum total grant | £14,000 | £20,000 |
| Coverage | Up to 75% of costs | Up to 75% of costs |
| Scheme end date | — | 31 March 2027 |
| Tax Year | Electric Car BIK Rate | Typical Petrol Car BIK Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2025/26 | 3% | 20–37% |
| 2026/27 | 4% | 20–37% |
| 2027/28 | 5% | 20–37% |
| Installation Size | Hardware Cost | Installation Cost | Total Before Grant | WCS Grant (from Apr 2026) | Net Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 × 7kW chargers | £1,200–£1,800 | £800–£1,500 | £2,000–£3,300 | Up to £1,000 | £1,000–£2,300 |
| 4 × 7kW chargers | £2,400–£3,600 | £1,500–£3,000 | £3,900–£6,600 | Up to £2,000 | £1,900–£4,600 |
| 6 × 7kW chargers | £3,600–£5,400 | £2,500–£5,000 | £6,100–£10,400 | Up to £3,000 | £3,100–£7,400 |