The most sensible first steps are below:
0) Do lots of research. Read blogs, visit school websites, information sites, forums, watch Youtube videos and more. Work out a budget. How much is each stage going to cost and what exactly can you afford? Do you have a contingency? What if things all go wrong? Put a plan together.
1) Get a class one medical. Do it before spending money on anything else.
2) Get a PPL. The best place is likely a local flying club. There are so many factors involved, but find out information including prices and then visit a few places to get a feel for one you like. Tell your instructor your aim is commercial and ask him/ her to be a bit stricter with you than Sunday flyers and to get you to practice lots of comms is various types of airspace. I know others who have gone to Spain and done it full-time in a month. It could be a good option, but do lots of research before committing. Aeros has a reputable fairly-flexible modular programme which might be suitable too and they have a base in Coventry. It depends on you and what you prefer.
3) The ATPL exams/ night rating/ hour building. ATPLs are 13 exams you just have to get through. You''ll find lots of advice out there though. You need 100 hours PIC to complete the CPL skills test with at least 50 hours PIC cross-country for the IR one. HB is, usually, either done bit by bit when you study or done intensively over multiple weeks. You'll need a night rating at some point and doing it at this stage is pretty normal.
Up to this point, you could easily still continue working. Though the ATPLs can be quite tough - I tried working through, but gave up my job for six months as I found it too tough for example - but others have, somehow, done them working full-time with a family.
The other question is whether you do just UK CAA ATPL exams or both UK and EASA ones. The extra cost is really not that much and it will keep more doors open. I have advised several Brits to do both, but it's really up to what you think. Ask Alex Whittingham from Bristol Ground School for some advice (he's on here).
Only after this would you need CPL, and ME-IR. Some advise you to do them together (which is the most common path) whilst others advice doing IR(R) or SE-IR and then some hour building and then converting it to ME-IR. You can do it 'dual' (i.e. both UK CAA and EASA) at several ATOs. Most people seem to do this type of course full-time, but I know part timers too. It'll be hard to do just evening and weekends though.
However, this stage is a long way away for you.
One other important point. Whatever you do, please don't pay up large amounts of cash upfront. Remember you could lose everything you pay to a school. Do really strong due diligence. Visit schools. Look at classrooms and planes. Speak to students out of earshot of sales staff. Do research online - but take everything online with a pinch of salt too. Don't be pulled in by glossy advertising or a slick salesman.
Best of luck and don't live a life of regrets!
