"by getting a Jet rating you are removing yourself from over 50% of the UK market for low houred pilots"
True, but without a rating you don t have also much chances : 800 applications sent, response was, no rating, no hours, no phone call !
So I thing that he did the right thing. Then maybe was he not enough prepared for this simulator ? When can you friend reapply with FR ?
Try with SkyEurope.
good luck.