Sale based ‘Charge M8’ Secures Funding for EV Charging Solutions

Sale based Charge M8, a fast‑growing clean technology business specialising in smart electric vehicle charging solutions, has secured innovation grant funding with support from GM Business Growth Hub’s Innovation Service, to accelerate the development and commercial readiness of its next generation charging technology.

The £5,000 grant, covering 50 per cent of project testing costs, is enabling Charge M8 to strengthen the intelligence, performance and scalability of its core platform.

By working with GM Business Growth Hub advisors and specialist partners, the business has been able to refine its technical roadmap and bring new developments to market more quickly, responding to the rising demand for user friendly EV charging as electrification gathers pace.

Operating at the intersection of energy, data and mobility, Charge M8 has developed a flexible charging system designed to support homeowners, businesses and fleet operators transitioning to electric vehicles.

As demand for EV infrastructure has increased, the business recognised that continued innovation would be critical to maintaining competitiveness and meeting increasingly complex technical and commercial requirements.

“EV charging is evolving fast, and standing still isn’t an option,” said Julian Smith, Managing Director of Charge M8. “We needed to enhance the intelligence behind our systems and make sure our solution could scale reliably alongside the rapid shift to electric vehicles.”

Backed by the funding, Charge M8 has advanced multiple aspects of its technology stack, including enhanced smart charging functionality, improved energy management features and deeper data integration. These developments are optimising charge scheduling to respond dynamically to energy demand, reducing costs and carbon impact while improving visibility and control for users and site operators.

Charge M8’s EV Kube foundation system, is a composite, completely recyclable alternative to traditional concrete bases. “EV Kube significantly reduces carbon impact and can be assembled by one person without heavy lifting equipment,” Smith added. “We’re extremely thankful to GM Business Growth Hub and the University of Manchester, who together reduced our time to market by four months.”

Alongside software and system enhancements, the project builds on Charge M8’s wider commitment to sustainable infrastructure. Its EV Kube foundation system replaces traditional high emission concrete bases with a lightweight, composite, 100 per cent recyclable alternative, significantly reducing carbon impact and simplifying installation.

“We’ve created something genuinely different from what’s already on the market,” Smith added. “EV Kube is an ESG‑friendly, modular and can be assembled by one person without heavy lifting equipment. We’re incredibly thankful to GM Business Growth Hub and the University of Manchester, together they reduced our time to market by around four months, which made a huge difference.”

The innovation activity is expected to underpin a broader rollout of Charge M8’s enhanced platform across its growing customer base. The business anticipates improvements in operational efficiency, customer experience and commercial readiness, alongside a forecast 100 per cent increase in turnover within six to nine months.

As part of its expansion plans, Charge M8 expects to recruit two additional technical roles to support product development, deployment and system optimisation. Although delivered locally, the project outcomes are designed to be fully scalable, supporting future growth across the UK and international markets.

“Supporting innovation led businesses like Charge M8 is part of our core purpose of promoting new technologies while delivering real economic impact for Greater Manchester. Targeted funding and expert support enable companies to grow faster, create skilled jobs and bring low‑carbon solutions to market, strengthening our city-region’s green and tech economy.”  Yvonne Grady, Head of Innovation at GM Business Growth Hub.

“Our focus has always been on making EV charging smarter, simpler and more accessible,” Smith concluded. “This funding has given us the space to innovate properly, strengthening our technology today while building a platform that’s ready for the demands of tomorrow’s energy system.”