This account of practice focusses on insights from the 'early days' of an action learning set within a leadership development programme in the English NHS. The account describes experiences of forming as a set as an important foundation for trust. Developing trust between set members enabled members to take more risks, sharing current and complex work and leadership challenges within the set. The structured space for thinking and reflection alongside people facing similar challenges brought learning and insights that led to taking new action on work issues. Included in this account are stories and reflections from set members and set facilitator on their experiences of trust, safety and trying new approaches to learning and leadership through action learning. This account will be of relevance to healthcare leaders that are participating in action learning, healthcare leadership developers involved in the delivery and facilitation of action learning and those considering including action learning as part of healthcare improvement programmes.