In phase 1 (from January to March 2023), 148 operators voluntarily joined the scheme representing around 90% of the total market in England (by patronage). This includes 5 large operators (Arriva, Go Ahead, National Express, Stagecoach and First), along with 21 larger small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) bus operators and 72 smaller SMEs. The majority of operators not signed up for the scheme do not meet the eligibility criteria. Between the first (January to March 2023) and second (April to June 2023) phases of the scheme, operator participation has remained largely unchanged. Nine operators withdrew from the scheme and 6 new operators joined, resulting in a total of 145 operators participating in phase 2.