Commending a grand pupil, working right away (10)

'commending' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both to do with communicating as well as being present participle verbs.
Maybe they are linked in a way I don't understand?

'a grand pupil working right away' is the wordplay.
I cannot really see how this works, but
'a' is within the answer.
'grand' could be 'g' (G is short for grand as in a thousand) and 'g' is located in the answer.
'pupil' could be 'l' (as in a learner driver with L-plates on their car) and 'l' is located in the answer.
'away' could be 'a' (abbreviation as used in sports fixtures) and 'a' is present in the answer.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).