Ayeup
No real tips Im afraid, just advice which you will have either heard or will be doing anyaway...
Knuckle down, do the work, pass the exams! There are no short cuts. Who you go with depends on your personal circumstances (i.e. full time or modular) and how much you can afford. Shop around and find the best for you, ask what their pass rates are like.
Have you got a class 1 medical? If not then I strongly recommend that you do - if you can't pass that then its a non-starter in the first place.
As for funding, I carried on working full time whilst I did all of my training (shifts have their few advantages) and so could get a bog standard loan. Egg are good since their interest rates are reasonable but they don't penalise you for any early payments should you be able to afford to make them. Keep flying too, even if its an hour a month - I didn't and was left with a shed load of hour building to do once I passed the theory stuff.
You'll enjoy instructing (most times), tis a great laugh! Good luck!
MM
