OK, well best of luck and you sure seem to have the sort of background which would assist an application to NATS.
There are many ATCOs who hold flying licences - a good number have CPLs or ATPLs and fly commercial aircraft and even more have PPLs and have their own aircraft. A significant number of the pilots in one particular UK flying company are ATCOs!! So, don't despair. If you really fancy ATC have a go.. then use the money you earn to finance flying..