OZEV Workplace Charging Scheme for Schools: How South East State-Funded Schools Can Secure Up to £80,000

State-funded schools across the South East are increasingly looking at how to support staff, visitors, and parents with on-site EV charging. The good news? Government funding is available right now, covering up to 75% of installation costs and worth up to £80,000 per school. The challenge? The scheme is in its final year and closes on 31 March 2027.

This guide walks state-funded school business managers through everything they need to know to apply confidently and efficiently before the deadline.

What Is the OZEV Workplace Charging Scheme for Schools?

The OZEV Workplace Charging Scheme for State-Funded Education Institutions is a UK government grant administered by the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV). It covers up to 75% of the combined purchase and installation cost of EV ChargePoint’s at eligible schools, up to £2,000 per socket and a maximum of 40 sockets per institution.

For multi-academy trusts (MATs), a separate application can be submitted for each school within the trust, with each school eligible for its own allocation of up to 40 sockets. That can scale grant entitlement significantly across larger trusts.

Key Grant Details at a Glance

• 75% off the combined cost of buying and installing ChargePoint’s
• Up to £2,000 per socket (reduced from £2,500 on 1 April 2026)
• Maximum of 40 sockets per institution across all sites
• Total potential grant value: up to £80,000 per school
• MATs can apply separately for each school in the trust
• Scheme closes 31 March 2027, its final year of operation

Independent Schools

If your institution is independent rather than state-funded, you cannot apply through this scheme. Independent schools should instead look at the standard Workplace Charging Scheme and the EV Infrastructure Grant for Staff and Fleets, both administered by OZEV through separate routes.

Is Your School Eligible?

The OZEV Workplace Charging Scheme is open to:

• State-funded schools, academies, and free schools
• Colleges and pupil referral units
• Institutions in England, Wales, Scotland, or Northern Ireland (Channel Islands and Isle of Man are excluded)

Your school must also have:

• An existing or future need for charging an electric vehicle
• Designated off-street parking facilities clearly associated with your premises (parking may be used by staff, visitors, parents, or others)
• The authority to apply on behalf of your organisation
• Confirmation that you will use an OZEV-authorised installer

How EV Charging Installation Works for Schools

Step 1: Free Site Survey

Before applying, GOV.UK guidance recommends arranging a site survey with an authorised installer to confirm your electrical capacity can support the planned installation. DMS provides this survey free of charge with no obligation to proceed.

The survey covers your electrical infrastructure assessment, parking suitability, recommended chargepoint quantities and locations, and a clear cost breakdown showing the 75% grant deduction.

Step 2: Grant Application

Your school applies to OZEV for a grant voucher via the GOV.UK application form. We provide your OZEV installer number and guide you through the required information, which includes:

• Numbers of staff and pupils at your institution
• Your institution’s SEED or reference number (URN for England and Wales schools, institution reference number for Northern Ireland, SEED number for Scotland)
• The number of ChargePoint’s and sites for installation
• Whether you plan to open ChargePoint’s for public use
• Contact details for two people, with email addresses matching the institution’s domain

Vouchers are typically issued within 5 working days of approval. Academy trusts must provide contact details for both a trust-level and school-level representative on each application.

Step 3: Installation

NICEIC-registered, OZEV-approved engineers carry out the installation. The voucher is valid for 180 days from issue, and the installation must be completed within that window.

Step 4: Grant Claimed

The installer submits the grant claim on your behalf and deducts it directly from your invoice. Your school pays only the remaining balance, typically around 25% of the total project cost.

Why South East State-Funded Schools Should Act Now

The South East has one of the highest rates of EV ownership in the UK, with staff and visitors increasingly expecting workplace charging as a standard facility. Beyond convenience, there are compelling operational reasons to move forward:

• Budget efficiency: Covering 75% of buying and installation costs significantly reduces capital expenditure, freeing budget for core educational priorities
• Staff attraction and retention: EV charging is an increasingly valued employee benefit
• Sustainability reporting: Many trusts now face pressure to demonstrate environmental responsibility in annual reports and Ofsted readiness
• Future-proofing: New UK car sales will be zero-emission only from 2035, so infrastructure investment today avoids a costlier reactive approach later
• Energy cost management: Smart charging solutions allow schools to control when charging occurs, avoiding peak tariff periods
• Time-limited opportunity: The scheme closes on 31 March 2027 with no current plans for a replacement programme

A Note for Multi-Academy Trusts

If you are running a multi-academy trust, the maths is even more compelling. Each school within your trust can apply separately, with its own allocation of up to 40 sockets. A 10-school trust could potentially access up to £800,000 in grant funding across the estate.

DMS can co-ordinate free site surveys across multiple schools within your trust in one organised programme, saving you time and ensuring consistent proposals for every site.

Common Concerns from School Business Managers, Addressed

“We don’t have the time to manage a complex project.”

A reputable OZEV-approved installer handles the technical specification, application support, grid connection coordination, and installation scheduling. Your involvement is minimal once the initial decisions are made. The process is designed to streamline, not burden, your workload.

“How do we ensure compliance and data security with networked chargers?”

OZEV-authorised ChargePoint’s must appear on the official authorised ChargePoint model list and meet UK safety and electrical standards. Modern smart chargers include access controls, usage reporting, and audit trails, supporting governance requirements and giving finance teams full visibility of energy consumption and costs.

“What if our electrical infrastructure is not ready?”

A free site survey will identify any necessary upgrades. In many cases, existing infrastructure is sufficient for an initial installation. Load management technology can also distribute charging demand intelligently, often removing the need for costly grid upgrades entirely.

“What if we want to open the ChargePoint’s for public use?”

You can, but you will need to comply with the Public ChargePoint Regulations 2023 and associated guidance. This decision is worth weighing carefully against the operational complexity of supporting public access on a school site.

Why Schools Across the South East Choose DMS

DMS is a Kent-based IT and electrical services company with over 20 years of experience working with schools and academies across the South East. We are:

• OZEV-approved: authorised to install eligible ChargePoint’s and claim grants on your behalf
• NICEIC-registered: all electrical work carried out by NICEIC-registered engineers
• Local to you: based in Kent, covering schools across Kent, Surrey, Essex, Hertfordshire, and West Sussex
• Experienced in schools: delivering IT and electrical services to South East schools since 2005
• End-to-end: from free site survey to final grant claim, one company, no separate contractors

Book Your Free Site Survey Today

The OZEV Workplace Charging Scheme for state-funded education institutions represents a closing window of opportunity. With the scheme ending on 31 March 2027 and grant rates already reduced, the time to act is now.

Book your free, no-obligation site survey today and receive a full grant eligibility assessment, installation proposal, and cost breakdown tailored to your school’s specific needs.

Learn more

DMS is an OZEV-approved, NICEIC-registered installer serving schools across the South East since 2005.