When an employee joins a Multiverse programme, their line manager, the Apprentice Manager (AM), takes on a set of formal responsibilities. These run from the application phase through to programme completion. This article covers all of those responsibilities in one place.
Related articles
The following table lists all related articles in this collection, with a brief description of each. Each article is also linked within the relevant section below.
Article | What it covers |
What to expect during the application and eligibility phase | |
Full instructions for accessing, signing, and troubleshooting the Training Plan | |
Logging in to the manager portal and completing Progress Review forms | |
Navigating and using the Line Manager Dashboard on The Platform | |
The Apprentice Manager Action Plan, a downloadable resource | |
An overview of the Progress Review process and its purpose | |
Guidance on Off-the-Job (OTJ) training and protecting learning time | |
Programme-specific onboarding guides for Apprentice Managers | |
A 90-day checklist and signposting to key resources | |
How The Platform, coaching, and Atlas support the Apprentice |
Responsibilities at a glance
The following table provides a summary of key Apprentice Manager responsibilities by stage.
Stage | Responsibility | Timing |
Application | Respond to the Multiverse eligibility contact | Within 3 working days |
Before Flying Start | Ensure the Apprentice completes the Induction Form and Onboarding Modules | Before Flying Start |
Before Flying Start | Sign the Training Plan | Within 42 days of programme start |
After Flying Start | Attend the Launch Meeting | Scheduled by the Coach |
On programme | Attend Progress Reviews | Every 3 months (statutory) |
On programme | Protect the Apprentice's Off-the-Job (OTJ) learning time (approximately 6 to 8 hours per week) | Ongoing |
On programme | Maintain contact with the Coach | Ongoing |
On programme | Monitor progress via the Line Manager Dashboard | Ongoing |
During the application phase
When an employee applies to join a Multiverse programme, the Apprentice Manager plays a key role in the eligibility process. Multiverse contacts the Apprentice Manager to confirm that the Apprentice has the necessary workplace support and that their role aligns with the programme standard.
The Apprentice Manager will receive a short set of questions by email. These confirm:
That the Apprentice can attend Multiverse sessions.
That the Apprentice can dedicate at least 6 hours per week to the apprenticeship during working hours.
That the Apprentice's role allows the skills learned to be applied in practice.
That the Apprentice will have access to the necessary data and tools.
That the Apprentice Manager will complete quarterly Progress Reviews and attend meetings with the Coach where required.
The Apprentice Manager has three working days to respond to this contact. If no response is received, Multiverse will use the Apprenticeship Expectations Agreement signed by the employee to progress the application.
For full details of the application phase, see Supporting an Apprentice's Application.
Before Flying Start
Flying Start is the initial onboarding session that marks the formal start of the Apprentice's programme. Before this session, the Apprentice Manager has two key responsibilities.
Supporting pre-enrolment tasks
Before attending Flying Start, the Apprentice must complete two tasks:
The Induction Form — a mandatory enrolment document.
The Onboarding Modules — foundational programme content completed on The Platform.
The Apprentice Manager does not complete these tasks directly. The Apprentice Manager must ensure the Apprentice has the allocated time to complete them before Flying Start. If either task is incomplete, the Apprentice will not be able to access Atlas, the AI learning assistant on The Platform.
Signing the Training Plan
The Training Plan (also referred to as the Commitment Statement or Apprenticeship Agreement) is a mandatory contract between the Apprentice, the Apprentice Manager (representing the employer), and Multiverse. It is required by the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) and confirms the commitment of all parties to the terms of the apprenticeship.
The Training Plan is sent by email approximately two working days before Flying Start. The signing sequence is fixed:
The Apprentice must sign the Training Plan first.
Once the Apprentice has signed, the system automatically notifies the Apprentice Manager.
The Apprentice Manager then receives access to the document. The signature field remains inactive until step 1 is complete.
The Apprentice Manager has 42 days from the programme start date to sign. Missing this deadline risks the Apprentice's funding eligibility.
If the Apprentice Manager changes at any point during the programme, the Training Plan is automatically voided and reissued. Both the Apprentice and the new Apprentice Manager must sign the new version, even if the previous manager had already signed.
For full signing instructions, troubleshooting guidance, and information on delegating the signature if the Apprentice Manager is unavailable, see Signing the Training Plan.
After Flying Start: the Launch Meeting
After the Apprentice has attended Flying Start, the Apprentice Manager will be invited to a Launch Meeting. This is a formal, scheduled session attended by the Apprentice, the Apprentice Manager, and the assigned Coach.
The Launch Meeting covers:
Learning objectives for the programme.
Off-the-Job (OTJ) training time requirements.
How the Apprentice Manager can best support the Apprentice during the programme.
The Apprentice Manager must attend this meeting in full.
During the programme
Once the Apprentice is on programme, the Apprentice Manager has four ongoing responsibilities.
Attending Progress Reviews
Progress Reviews are a statutory three-way meeting between the Apprentice, the Apprentice Manager, and the Coach. They take place every 3 months and are a mandatory requirement of the ESFA. Apprenticeship funding depends on these reviews being completed on time.
During each Progress Review, the Apprentice Manager will be asked to:
Confirm whether the Apprentice has delivered measurable business impact as a result of programme learning.
Provide a specific example of that impact.
Identify two or three development areas for the next three months.
Select a progress evaluation from a dropdown menu on The Platform.
The Apprentice Manager will receive email reminders when a review is due. The first reminder typically arrives between months 2 and 3. A live review meeting may also be scheduled by the Coach (particularly if the Apprentice is identified as off-track, or if the Apprentice Manager disagrees with a progress evaluation).
For an overview of Progress Reviews and their purpose, see What is a Progress Review & why are they important?.
For instructions on logging in and completing a review, see How to Access Your Manager Account to Complete Progress Reviews.
Supporting Off-the-Job training
Apprentices on levy-funded programmes are required to spend approximately 6 to 8 hours per week on Off-the-Job (OTJ) learning. This time is protected and takes place during normal working hours, not in addition to them. The Apprentice Manager is responsible for ensuring the Apprentice has the time to complete this learning.
OTJ activities include structured learning (attending sessions, working with the Coach) and applied learning (applying new skills to work projects, shadowing, and reflective practice).
If the Apprentice falls behind on OTJ hours, the Apprentice cannot proceed to Gateway, the final stage before the End Point Assessment (EPA). Consistent support from the Apprentice Manager is one of the most direct ways to prevent this from happening.
For detailed guidance on OTJ learning and how to protect learning time effectively, see Supporting your Learner's Off-the-Job Training.
Maintaining contact with the Coach
The Coach is the Apprentice's primary point of support throughout the programme. Regular contact between the Apprentice Manager and the Coach helps to surface risks early and keep the Apprentice on track.
The Coach will typically make contact ahead of Progress Reviews and at key programme milestones. The Apprentice Manager should respond promptly and flag any concerns about the Apprentice's workload, wellbeing, or progress as they arise.
Monitoring progress via the Line Manager Dashboard
The Apprentice Manager has access to the Line Manager Dashboard on The Platform. This provides a centralised view of the Apprentice's learning progress, project submissions, OTJ hours, and key programme dates. Status flags within the dashboard alert the Apprentice Manager if the Apprentice is falling behind, enabling early support.
For access instructions and troubleshooting, see Accessing the Line Manager Dashboard.
Resources for Apprentice Managers
Multiverse provides several resources to help the Apprentice Manager support the Apprentice effectively throughout the programme.
The Apprentice Manager Action Plan is a downloadable resource that organises key actions into clear phases of the apprenticeship. It is designed to be used alongside the Line Manager Dashboard. See How Managers can Support their Apprentices.
The 90-day checklist provides a structured guide to the key actions for the Apprentice Manager in the first 90 days of the apprenticeship, including before Flying Start, the Launch Meeting, and the first Progress Review. See Supporting Your Learner as a Manager.
Programme-specific onboarding guides are available for each Multiverse programme. These cover the learning structure, expected outcomes, and the Apprentice Manager's role in context. See Line Manager Onboarding Guide.
The Platform and Atlas overview explains how The Platform, the Multiverse coaching team, and Atlas work together to support the Apprentice. See Supporting Your Apprentice: Understanding the Platform, Experts, and Atlas.
Where to get support
The primary contact for all programme-related questions is the Apprentice's Coach. The Coach's contact details are available on The Platform.
For technical issues (including problems accessing The Platform, signing the Training Plan, or logging in to the Line Manager Dashboard), the Apprentice Manager should contact the Multiverse Support Team.
Support is available via the chat widget at support.multiverse.io.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Questions | Answers |
Question: I have not received the link to sign the Training Plan. Where is it? | Answer: The signature process is strictly sequential. The Apprentice Manager will not receive a link until the Apprentice has signed first. Ask the Apprentice to confirm their signature is complete, then check junk and spam folders for a notification from PandaDoc or DocuSign.
For further troubleshooting, see Signing the Training Plan. |
Question: Why was I sent a second Training Plan to sign? | Answer: Any change to the manager record on The Platform automatically voids the existing Training Plan and triggers a reissue. Both the Apprentice and the Apprentice Manager must sign the new version, regardless of any previous signatures. |
Question: I cannot see my Apprentice in the Line Manager Dashboard. What should I do? | Answer: The Apprentice will only appear in the Line Manager Dashboard after completing Flying Start and reaching On Programme status on The Platform. If Flying Start has taken place and the dashboard is still empty, contact the Multiverse Support Team with the Apprentice's name and email address to verify the account linkage.
See Accessing the Line Manager Dashboard for further troubleshooting. |
Question: Does The Apprentice need to sign before they can start learning? | Answer: The apprenticeship is not considered compliant until the Training Plan is signed by both The Apprentice and The Apprentice Manager. Both signatures should be captured before the Flying Start date to ensure full platform access. |
Question: My Apprentice says they have signed the Training Plan, but I still cannot see my signature field. | Answer: The signature field only becomes active once the Apprentice's signature is fully submitted — not just started. Ask the Apprentice to confirm they clicked the final submit button, not just completed the form. If the issue persists, contact the Multiverse Support Team to check the document status. |
Question: I have received an email asking me to complete a Progress Review. How do I access it? | Answer: Log in to the manager portal at platform.multiverse.io/apprentice-manager/home and navigate to the Progress Reviews section in the left-hand menu. Do not use my.multiverse.io, which is the Apprentice Portal and does not include manager functions.
For a full walkthrough, see How to Access Your Manager Account to Complete Progress Reviews. |
Question: What happens if I do not complete a Progress Review on time? | Answer: Progress Reviews are a statutory requirement of the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) and are tied to apprenticeship funding. If a review is overdue, the Apprentice's Coach will make contact to resolve this. Complete the review as soon as possible after receiving the reminder email. |
Question: My Apprentice is very busy at work at the moment. Can they catch up on their Off-the-Job hours later? | Answer: OTJ hours can vary week to week, but the Apprentice must reach 100% of their total required hours before they can proceed to Gateway. Falling significantly behind makes catch-up increasingly difficult. If the Apprentice is struggling to protect learning time, contact the Coach as soon as possible so a plan can be put in place.
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Question: I am going on leave. Can someone else sign the Training Plan or attend the Launch Meeting on my behalf? | Answer: Yes. Another suitable supervisor within the employer organisation may sign the Training Plan if the Apprentice Manager is unavailable. Contact the Multiverse Support Team to update the signatory details. For the Launch Meeting, notify the Apprentice's Coach in advance so an alternative arrangement can be made. |
Question: I am changing roles or leaving the organisation. What happens to the Apprentice? | Answer: A new Apprentice Manager must be assigned as soon as possible. Notify the Apprentice's Coach immediately. The Training Plan will be automatically voided and reissued to the new Apprentice Manager and the Apprentice for re-signing. A gap in manager oversight can affect the Apprentice's compliance status and progress on programme. |
Question: I cannot log in to the manager portal to complete my Progress Review. | Answer: Make sure you are using the correct address: platform.multiverse.io/apprentice-manager/home. If you cannot log in or reset your password, you may not have completed your initial account registration. Check your inbox for an original welcome email from Multiverse and click the link to complete registration. If the link has expired, contact the Multiverse Support Team to request a new one.
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