We are seeing more and more electric vehicles (EVs) on our roads and every fuel station now has EV charging points installed, not to mention many carparks and other locations all over the UK.
But there has been concern that sales of EVs have slowed. This has been blamed, in part, to the end of subsidies to support households who transition to EVs instead of opting for petrol or diesel-fuelled cars.
However, in July, the UK government’s Department for Transport announced that it would offer grants of up to £3,750 for drivers to help lower the cost of buying an electric car. There will also be smaller grants of £1,500 available for some models of EV.
Vehicles eligible for the highest grants need to meet the highest sustainable manufacturing standards, which means EVs produced in the UK are likely to benefit most. This is part of the government’s effort to recognise the embedded carbon emissions throughout a vehicle’s life and not just what comes out of its exhaust.
Charging infrastructure also getting a boost
In addition, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander also announced that the government will release millions in funding to support the installation of cross-pavement charging channels, chargepoints at depots to serve coaches, vans and HGVs and charging points at NHS sites.
This is great news if you’ve recently completed an electrical training course or work as an electrician, as it will likely mean plenty of opportunities for work.
There are already over 5,500 rapid and ultra-rapid charging points that are open-access and within one mile of what’s described as the UK’s “strategic road network” – namely motorways and A-roads. But many more are needed to help drivers feel comfortable transitioning to EVs.
Both public and private organisations are rapidly adding to the UK’s EV charging network, with 8,670 public EV chargers added to the network in the first half of 2025. That’s an increase of 27 per cent compared to the same period last year.
More charging points still needed
However, the data shows that while places like London and the south-east have very healthy charging networks, other regions of the UK are lagging behind in this regard. Northern Ireland, the north-east, the east-midlands and Wales were identified as the parts of the UK with the lowest number of EV chargers.
This presents an opportunity if you have undertaken electrical training, because organisations in these regions will more than likely be looking for experienced professionals who can help to install new EV chargers and in doing so expand the network.
With the new funding from the government, totalling £63 million, there are likely to be more projects for installing EV chargers that require skilled electricians. If you are already a qualified electrician but have yet to get involved with installing EV chargers, now is a great time to increase your training.
There is a City and Guilds course dedicated to EV charging which will give you a good understanding of how to design and install the range of EV charging equipment that is currently available.
The course also covers the specific testing you’re required to perform before handing charging points over for use. What’s more, it only takes one day to complete, with a 60-minute online exam, so if you are already a qualified electrician it’s a relatively easy way to bolster your skill set.