JamesT - the assumption that most flightdeck at Eastern make, is that Richard Lake doesn't want them to leave. This may not be the case. I suspect that he wants the more experienced (top of the increments) people to disappear, so that they can be replaced by cheaper people (bottom of the rung, no increments for a couple of years, second officers and newly-promoted captains) - who have just paid him for a type-rating, or have been bonded for command.
He will hang onto the older captains with plenty of hours, simply due to their inability to move on, and these captains will bolster the command hours profile of the company. This will keep the CAA/insurance company from getting too anxious or nosey.
Remember - every £50 saved by RL is another minute of Spitfire rental.... ;o)