Let it be the company returning in groups of eight (6)
I believe the answer is:
octets
'groups of eight' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'let it be the company returning' is the wordplay.
'let it be' becomes 'stet' (I've seen this before).
'the company' becomes 'co' (abbreviation).
'returning' is a reversal indicator.
'stet'+'co'='stetco'
'stetco' written backwards gives 'OCTETS'.
'in' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for octets that I've seen before include "Sets of eight" , "Groups of eight, often singers" , "groups of eight, say singers" , "Groups of eight peformers" .)