Made progress with cash up front on date (8)
I believe the answer is:
advanced
'made progress' is the definition.
('advance' can be a synonym of 'make progress')
'front on date' is the wordplay.
'front' becomes 'advance' ('advance' can be similar in meaning to 'front').
'on date' becomes 'd' (common abbreviation eg in DOB, date of birth. I am not sure about the 'on' bit.**).
'advance'+'d'='ADVANCED'
'with cash up' is the link.
I am not very happy about this link. Some or all of it may be part of another bit of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for advanced that I've seen before include "Lent - ahead in development" , "Far on; complex" , "was approaching" , "Foremost" , "Far ahead in development or progress" .)