AMB,
I'm not from the U.K. but, have received a private certificate and currently working on a complex/instrument rating. First off I will tell you I'm not familiar with C.A.A. regulations so I'll try my best.
First things first...There's a long road ahead if you plan on going commercial. You will of course have to earn a private cert. which can take anywhere from 3 months + depending on your training frequency. Best financial results come from students who train twice a week or more. It saves big bucks because you won't have to backtrack on lessons because you are always fresh and it does save a lot of time. You'll know by the time you receive your private if this is what you want to pursue.
Your next steps will be:
-Complex add-on (constant speed props, retractable gear)
-Commercial/CFI- (at this point you're limited to to towing banners and flight instruction while getting paid 8.00 to 15.00/ Hr.)
-Instrument rating (Very important and grueling. You have a visor that limits your vision to just the instrument panel on landing approaches)
-Twin Engine
-Turbine
If you have gone this far I do know that in the U.K. you will have the benefit of getting into an apprenticeship program with an airline, while you get paid! They train you in simulators and specified aircraft and it doesn't cost
you $10,000.00 a month to fly for Value Jet (Yes, those pilots are paying the airline for their training)Put it this way, the extremely motivated, military pilots, and rich boys get the airline jobs in the U.S. You're lucky to have a chance to train where you are since in my opinion the C.A.A. has a better system than the F.A.A and always produce flawless pilots. I think the most grueling part of any training is the F.A.A/C.A.A. checkrides where the agent sits next to you and barks out commands and scenarios that you have to be able to respond quickly. I think you'll enjoy it as long as stall training doesn't make you piss your pants! Anyway, good luck and have fun!
Here's a link that might be of help:
http://www.ukft.com/