Announced by government in "New Challenges, New Chances" in December 2011, the sector-led Commission on Adult Vocational Teaching and Learning has been tasked with raising the quality, and improving the outcomes and impact, of adult vocational teaching and learning for learners and employers. It is a commission focused on the future--of people, businesses, the economy and society. It represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to shine the spotlight on adult vocational learning--to be ambitious about the sector's role in ensuring excellent vocational teaching and learning, in order to support the success and prosperity of learners and employers, and develop a new generation of "home-grown" talent. In this article the author reflects on the commission's work to date and draws out some of the emerging themes.