EV Charging Grants and Funding in 2026: What Manchester Businesses Can Still Claim
Government grants for EV charging infrastructure have been available in various forms since 2016, yet a significant proportion of eligible Manchester businesses have never applied. According to OZEV data, take-up of workplace charging grants across the North West remains below 40 per cent of estimated eligible premises. That represents millions of pounds in unclaimed funding that could reduce installation costs by thousands per site.
The funding landscape has changed considerably over the past two years. Some schemes have closed, others have been restructured, and new local authority funding has emerged through the Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure fund. For Manchester businesses, landlords and property managers, understanding what is currently available — and acting before allocations run out — is the difference between paying full price and getting significant financial support.
This guide covers every EV charging grant and funding stream available to Manchester businesses in 2026, who qualifies, how much you can claim, and how to apply.
Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS)
The Workplace Charging Scheme remains one of the most straightforward grants available. Administered by OZEV, it provides a contribution towards the cost of purchasing and installing EV chargepoints at business premises.
The current terms provide up to £350 per chargepoint socket, with a maximum of 40 sockets per applicant across all sites. Both purchase and installation costs are eligible. The chargepoints must be smart-enabled with the ability to connect to the internet and respond to demand signals.
Eligible applicants include registered businesses, charities, and public sector organisations. Sole traders are also eligible provided the chargepoints are installed at a dedicated business premises, not a residential address that happens to be a registered office.
To qualify, the chargepoints must be installed by an OZEV-approved installer, meet the minimum technical specification including smart functionality, and be connected to a dedicated business electricity supply. The installation must be completed and the grant claimed within four months of the voucher being issued.
For a Manchester business installing eight workplace chargepoints, the WCS grant reduces the total cost by up to £2,800. Combined with the 100 per cent capital allowance on the remaining cost, the effective cost of installation is substantially reduced.
How to apply: Applications are made online through the OZEV portal. The process takes approximately two weeks for voucher approval. Your installer can handle the application on your behalf as part of the installation service.
EV Infrastructure Grant for Residential Properties
The EV Infrastructure Grant replaced the former On-street Residential Chargepoint Scheme and is specifically designed for residential buildings where off-street parking is shared — exactly the scenario facing apartment buildings and multi-unit developments across Manchester.
The grant provides up to £30,000 per residential building for the installation of EV charging infrastructure. This covers the core electrical work including cable routes, distribution boards and metering systems. Individual chargepoint units can also be funded at up to £350 per socket through the associated EV Chargepoint Grant.
Eligible buildings must be residential with at least one off-street parking space, have shared or communal parking rather than individual garages, and the applicant must be the building owner, freeholder, management company or managing agent. Private landlords with blocks of flats, housing associations, and residential management companies all qualify.
The grant is particularly valuable because the core infrastructure — the cable containment, distribution boards and electrical capacity work — is the most expensive element of a multi-unit installation. In many cases, the grant covers a substantial portion of the enabling works, with residents then paying only for their individual chargepoint units.
For Manchester apartment blocks, this grant can reduce infrastructure costs from £15,000 to £25,000 down to a few thousand pounds. Our guide to EV charging for apartment buildings covers the technical planning in detail.
How to apply: Applications are made through the OZEV portal by the building owner or managing agent. Supporting documentation includes evidence of building ownership, site plans showing parking arrangements, and a quote from an OZEV-approved installer.
Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) Fund
The LEVI fund is a major government programme that channels funding through local authorities to deliver public and community EV charging infrastructure. Greater Manchester Combined Authority has received LEVI funding to support chargepoint installation across the city region.
Unlike the direct grants above, LEVI funding is not applied for by individual businesses. Instead, the local authority identifies priority locations and works with landowners, businesses and charging network operators to install chargepoints in areas that are underserved by existing infrastructure.
Manchester businesses can benefit from LEVI funding in several ways. If your premises are identified as a priority location — for example, a car park near residential areas with limited off-street parking — the local authority may approach you about hosting chargepoints. You can also proactively contact the Greater Manchester Combined Authority EV team to express interest in hosting chargepoints on your land.
The advantage of LEVI-funded installations is that the cost is typically borne by the local authority or a partnered charge point operator, with the landowner providing access to their site. Some arrangements include a revenue share where the landowner receives a percentage of charging income.
LEVI funding is being deployed in phases, with the Greater Manchester allocation covering 2024 to 2027. Businesses interested in hosting LEVI-funded chargepoints should register their interest early, as the most attractive sites are allocated first.
Capital Allowances and Tax Relief
While not a grant in the traditional sense, the tax relief available for EV charging infrastructure represents a substantial financial benefit that many Manchester businesses overlook.
Annual Investment Allowance (AIA): Businesses can claim 100 per cent first-year capital allowances on EV charging equipment through the AIA. The current AIA limit is £1 million per year, meaning virtually any business EV charging installation can be fully deducted from taxable profits in the year of purchase. For a business paying corporation tax at 25 per cent, a £20,000 charging installation generates a tax saving of £5,000.
Enhanced Capital Allowances: Certain energy-saving equipment, including qualifying EV chargepoints listed on the Energy Technology List, may attract enhanced capital allowances. This provides a cash flow benefit by accelerating the tax deduction.
VAT: EV charging equipment and installation attract the standard 20 per cent VAT rate for business installations. VAT-registered businesses can reclaim this through their VAT return, effectively reducing the cost by 20 per cent.
Combining grants with tax relief creates a compelling financial picture. A £20,000 workplace charging installation funded by a £2,800 WCS grant, with £3,440 VAT reclaimed and a £3,440 corporation tax saving through capital allowances, has an effective net cost of approximately £10,320 — roughly half the headline price.
Energy Company Obligation and Network Operator Schemes
Electricity North West, the distribution network operator for the Manchester area, periodically offers support for EV charging installations through network reinforcement programmes and innovation funding.
When a chargepoint installation requires a supply upgrade, Electricity North West assesses the connection application and may fund a portion of the reinforcement work if it benefits the wider network. This is determined on a case-by-case basis and depends on the location, the existing network capacity and the scale of the proposed installation.
It is worth discussing supply upgrade costs with both your installer and Electricity North West at the feasibility stage, as the contribution towards reinforcement costs can significantly reduce the total project cost. Our DNO application guide explains the application process.
Greater Manchester Specific Funding and Initiatives
Greater Manchester Combined Authority has set a target for the city region to be carbon neutral by 2038, and EV infrastructure is a key component of that strategy. Several local initiatives support EV charging installation.
The Greater Manchester Electric Vehicle Charging Strategy sets out plans for a comprehensive public charging network. Businesses that align with this strategy may find additional support available through local authority programmes.
Transport for Greater Manchester coordinates with district councils to identify priority areas for charging infrastructure. Businesses in these areas may benefit from co-investment or partnership arrangements.
Individual councils within Greater Manchester — including Manchester, Salford, Stockport, Tameside and Oldham — have their own sustainability programmes that may include support for business EV charging. Contact your local council's environmental or planning team to ask about current schemes.
How to Maximise Your Funding
The key to maximising EV charging funding is to combine multiple sources. A typical Manchester business installation might use the Workplace Charging Scheme grant to reduce chargepoint costs, capital allowances to offset the remaining installation cost against corporation tax, VAT recovery to reclaim 20 per cent of the total cost, and employer NI savings from salary sacrifice EV schemes to fund ongoing electricity costs.
By layering these funding sources, the effective cost of workplace EV charging can be reduced by 50 to 70 per cent compared to the headline installation price.
The most important step is to apply for grants before starting the installation. Most schemes require an approved voucher or grant agreement before work begins. Installing chargepoints first and then applying for grants will result in the application being rejected.
Getting Started
Grant funding is allocated on a first-come, first-served basis and several schemes have fixed budgets that will not be replenished once exhausted. If you are considering EV charging for your Manchester business, the financial case for acting now is strong.
We handle grant applications as part of our EV charging installation service. Our team identifies which funding you qualify for, prepares and submits the applications, and coordinates the installation timeline to ensure all grant conditions are met.
Find out what EV charging grants your business qualifies for. Call 0161 706 1360 or email Info@manchestercompliance.co.uk.
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