Alec sets up trips and ventures (10)
I believe the answer is:
speculates
'ventures' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both to do with communicating as well as being verbs in their -s form.
Maybe you can see an association between them that I can't see?
'alec sets up trips' is the wordplay.
'trips' indicates anagramming the letters.
'alec'+'sets'+'up'='alecsetsup'
'alecsetsup' with letters rearranged gives 'SPECULATES'.
'and' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for speculates that I've seen before include "Theorises; takes financial risks" , "Conjectures" .)