Mis-information, as I said, is rife.
LGW haven't dropped out will start training in January. They are working to a dead-line too as they're already starting to re-deploy their ATSA's.
But you're quite right when you say that the success of EFPS depends on its implementation. LGW have a simulator that is beyond anything I have seen in NATS and ALL THE EQUIPMENT HAS BEEN STANDARDISED. Same VDU's, same menus, and the same equipment in the same location in each position. That has been down to the hard work of ATCO's who have volunteered to get involved, Tels, Ops, and believe or not, Unit Management, who have provided the resource for the refurbishment.
Perhaps the LHR Tech Com (or any interested ATCO) should pop down to LGW to see how they're doing things...? It could, and probably would, answer a lot of questions