Contact approach exactly!!! All those points.
It took me around 4 months to SOLI and it was not an easy process. I was employed up until March 2020. Had a few interviews lined up all UK based between May-August 2020 lovely. Obviously never expected COVID to get so bad. Couldn’t sort anything until 2021 due to restrictions on travel get COVID myself etc etc.
All in around £3k to get an EASA licence. I mean I had to do an initial C1 medical again but can only be done either in London or Birmingham. Held a C1 for 10 years and had to spend £1000 to get an initial.
For people outside of the UK or EU it is nigh on impossible.