Rush back with first bits of equipment since messaging an artisan (9)
I believe the answer is:
tradesman
'artisan' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'rush back with first bits of equipment since messaging an' is the wordplay.
'rush' becomes 'dart' (both can mean to move quickly).
'back' shows that the letters should be reversed in order.
'with' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'first bits of' indicates taking the first letters (I've seen 'first bit' mean this).
The first letters of 'equipment since messaging' is 'esm'.
'dart' backwards is 'trad'.
'trad'+'esm'+'an'='TRADESMAN'
(Other definitions for tradesman that I've seen before include "Dealer" , "Ten dramas for skilled workman" , "Small-scale businessman" , "Skilled worker; shopkeeper" , "I must sell stuff" .)