Electrical Training for Businesses: Why HMRC’s New EV Fuel Advisory Rates Signal a Turning Point for Employers

Introduction: A Policy Shift Businesses Cannot Ignore

From 1 September 2025, HMRC will abolish the single advisory fuel rate for electric company cars and replace it with two distinct rates:

• 8p per mile for home charging

• 14p per mile for public charging

This marks a significant shift from the current universal rate of 7p per mile. HMRC has explicitly recognised the growing price discrepancy between home and public EV charging—a development with direct consequences for fleet operators, facilities managers, landlords, and employers running company EV schemes.

But beyond payroll and mileage reimbursement, this change signals a deeper truth: businesses must now treat EV infrastructure, energy management, and electrical compliance as boardroom priorities. For employers across Cheshunt, Waltham Cross, Broxbourne, and wider Hertfordshire, this is a wake-up call to invest in electrical training, workforce development, and compliance readiness.

Why Employers Must Act: The Bigger Picture Behind HMRC’s Rates

HMRC’s decision isn’t just about tax—it reflects structural changes in how electricity is priced, regulated, and consumed.

• Domestic charging costs are benchmarked against the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero’s official “domestic electricity cost per kilowatt-hour,” adjusted by ONS electricity price indices.

• Public charging rates are benchmarked against Zapmap’s Public Charging Price Index, again uprated by ONS inflation figures.

For employers, the implications are clear:

• EV charging costs are no longer uniform. Businesses that fail to plan for charging infrastructure risk paying inflated public charging costs.

• Corporate fleet electrification strategies must adapt. Installing on-site chargers, negotiating energy tariffs, and training in-house staff to manage EV systems will now have a measurable ROI.

• Electrical compliance and workforce skills are business-critical. Without electricians trained in EV charger installation (City & Guilds 2919), inspection & testing (2391), and 18th Edition compliance, companies risk project delays, higher costs, and reputational risks.

In short, what looks like a small tax change today will accelerate demand for skilled electricians tomorrow.

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The Skills Challenge: Why Employers Face Bottlenecks

The UK already faces a severe shortage of qualified electricians, with demand surging due to net-zero targets. Consider the following:

• The UK needs 12,000 new electricians every year, yet supply is lagging. Over 100,000 additional electricians will be required by 2032 to meet net-zero infrastructure demand.

• In Hertfordshire, electrical trades are among the highest-risk occupations for workforce shortfall, due to a booming construction pipeline worth £1.1 billion annually.

• Apprenticeships in engineering-related fields fell by 20% in Broxbourne in recent years, even as demand for solar, EV charging, and battery storage surged.

This shortage directly affects employers trying to respond to HMRC’s policy shift. The simple truth is this: without investment in training and apprenticeships, businesses will not have the workforce capacity to implement EV charging infrastructure at the scale required.

Key Electrical Training Areas Employers Should Prioritise

To stay compliant, competitive, and ready for HMRC’s policy shift, employers should focus on upskilling their workforce in the following areas:

18th Edition Wiring Regulations (BS 7671)

The baseline requirement for all electricians, ensuring compliance with modern standards. A must for contractors, facilities teams, and landlords to meet inspection and insurance obligations.

City & Guilds 2391-52: Inspection & Testing

Critical for businesses managing multiple sites or properties. Enables in-house teams to carry out periodic testing, landlord certificates, and EV charger inspections—reducing reliance on external contractors.

EV Charge Point Installation (City & Guilds 2919 or equivalent)

With HMRC creating a financial gap between home and public charging, employers who install workplace charging stations will immediately reduce operating costs. Training staff in EVSE installation ensures compliance with the Code of Practice for Electric Vehicle Charging Equipment Installation.

Solar PV & Battery Storage (EESS Training)

The synergy is clear: pairing solar panels and battery storage with workplace EV charging mitigates long-term costs and reliance on the grid. But a shortage of accredited installers threatens delivery, making upskilling urgent.

PAT Testing (Portable Appliance Testing)

A compliance essential. As businesses increase workplace charging and renewable installations, ensuring that appliances and tools remain safe is legally required under the Electricity at Work Regulations.

Workforce Development: Apprenticeships & Retention

The skills gap won’t close on its own. Employers must take the lead by embedding training and apprenticeships into workforce strategy.

• In Broxbourne, apprenticeship starts rose by 13% among over-25s in just one year—proof that businesses are retraining existing staff to fill skills gaps quickly.

• However, engineering and electrical apprenticeships are declining among younger entrants, threatening long-term workforce sustainability.

Employers that sponsor apprenticeships, offer tailored training, and create career progression pathways (e.g., from apprenticeship to 18th Edition to EV charger certification) will retain staff, reduce recruitment costs, and secure a future-ready workforce.

Business Case: The ROI of Upskilling in the EV Era

Let’s put this in financial terms:

• Without workplace chargers, a fleet of 10 EV company cars doing 20,000 miles annually will cost:

Home charging reimbursement: £16,000 (8p x 2m miles)

• Public charging reimbursement: £28,000 (14p x 2m miles)

That’s a £12,000 annual cost gap. Installing workplace charging infrastructure (at roughly £1,000–£1,500 per charger, depending on installation) could pay for itself in under a year.

But here’s the catch: to achieve this saving, employers need qualified electricians trained in EVSE installation, inspection, and compliance. Outsourcing is possible, but in today’s overheated job market—where wages for electricians are climbing to the top of construction pay scales—it’s far more cost-effective to train and retain in-house staff.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for Employers

Q1: Do we legally need to install workplace EV chargers?Not yet. But HMRC’s new rates make it financially unviable to rely solely on public charging. Installing chargers reduces long-term costs and aligns with net-zero obligations.

Q2: What training is mandatory for staff installing EV chargers?Electricians must hold 18th Edition (BS 7671) and ideally a dedicated EVSE installation qualification such as City & Guilds 2919. For ongoing safety, pairing this with 2391 Inspection & Testing is best practice.

Q3: How can SMEs in Hertfordshire access apprenticeships or group training?Through initiatives such as the Hertfordshire Opportunities Portal (HOP) and local partnerships with Hertford Regional College, which link businesses to apprenticeship candidates and training subsidies.

Q4: Will training costs pay off for my business?Yes. Whether through reduced reliance on costly external contractors, faster project delivery, or avoiding inflated HMRC reimbursement rates, training pays for itself in compliance, safety, and cost savings.

Q5: What about compliance for landlords and facilities teams?Landlords must comply with Part P of the Building Regulations and the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020. Training staff in 18th Edition, testing, and PAT ensures compliance and reduces liability.

Conclusion: Turning Policy into Opportunity

HMRC’s split advisory fuel rates for EVs may look like a minor tax adjustment, but for employers it signals something bigger: the electrification of transport is no longer optional, and businesses must prepare their workforce now.

The evidence is overwhelming—skills shortages are real, demand for electricians is surging, and compliance obligations are tightening. Employers in Cheshunt, Waltham Cross, Broxbourne, and across Hertfordshire who invest in electrical training, apprenticeships, and upskilling in EV and renewables will not just meet compliance—they’ll unlock competitive advantage, reduce costs, and future-proof their workforce.

In a time when every penny per mile counts, the smartest investment businesses can make is not just in chargers, but in the people who install, inspect, and maintain them.