Unfortunately your Standard Learning Credits (SLC) have to be used to gain a qualification (NVQ Lvl 3 etc) in a job that will benefit your unit (IIRC).I used mine to get a certain skydiving qualification, giving me a nice certificate and a red book from the FAI. Your Enhance Learning Credits (ELC) can be used to get what ever you want as long as the company is ELC registered. I looked to use mine to get my license, wait until around April to start your course and claim one years worth of ELC, and then in the May while still studying claim the next batch of ELC towards your PPL.
Im pretty sure you can get authority to claim SLC, claim against the cost of your radio license as its an official course leading to the award of a recognized qualification.