Local college being ICAT if I remember rightly?
Basically, as far as I am aware, you need 5 years experiance, if you start from scratch and do the modules not as part of a 147 course.
So, you'd have to do the modules and experiance within that 5 years. Most guys get jobs as Mechanics/Technicians and self study the exams as they go, try and get over from BAAE to BAMC maybe? (Or, even ATC Lasham @ St Athan?).
If you want to "fast track", get on the BSc Course at ICAT, get a Honours degree, your full B1 license, and as its an approved course, you'll only then need to follow it with 2 years of experiance. (3yrs course, and 2years experiance still adds up to 5years mind - but you'll have a degree (and no money left
)).