yorky drifter
Ho Ho Ho..!
I know of at least 6 UK airlines that have taken on Instructors in the past 9 months.
Here's a clue.........Why do you think that BMI Regional and BACX raised the bar to 500 hours minimum TT last month. See redflyer's response to answer that.
That Chief Pilot whom you spoke to told you those things then. Ask him again in 4 months and he will say something completely different