3rd Runway
Just letting off a bit of steam above!
The options that I have looked at so far are:
1. Entry into NATS through the Cadetship route. This entails doing the full NATS course, being paid as a cadet whilst on the course, and being streamed for terminal or area part way through the radar course. At the end of the course I believe you are effectively told where yuou are posted to. This route costs you nothing, however, pay wise, you are starting from the bottom.
2. Entry into NATS via the APC (Assessment of Previous Competence) route. You take an aerodrome and radar assessment (after a short amount of guidance/training) to see if your skills are high enough to miss the first part of the aerodrome and radar courses. As an ex-mil controller you are expected to pay an amount towards the course (see earlier posts), and you do not get paid whilst on the course. However, the course is only about 6 months long, and you go straight on to the ATCO 2/3 pay scale on completion. You normally (always?) go to an airfield, and you will know where you are posted to at the end of the course, as you will negotiate this prior to the course commencing. Personally, I think this is the better option - even though you have to live off your fat for a few months.
3. Convince an airfield to sponsor you through the courses - congratulations if you can manage it. The courses are expensive, and if an airfield has no guarantee that you will pass, it would normally look to recruit already qualified controllers (cheaper and safer option).
4. Speak to SERCO who run the other ATC college in Bath. They may part sponsor you through the courses (depending on your negotiating skills you could end up spending around 20K), and will bond you to their company for a period afterwards. Again, they have control over where you are sent, though you will know this before you start the course. SERCO courses get booked up well in advance, so speak to them early.
Anybody - this is only my experience so far. Please correct me where I have got the wrong impression, or send more info if you have it.
3rd Runway - if you want to speak in more detail - contacts names etc., send me an e-mail, in confidence, and I'll give you a call.
Good luck.