<<Can anyone offer any other alternatives-other than re-taking NATS in 12 months??>>
Not sure what you mean... "re-taking NATS"???
Unless things have drastically changhed, anyone can hold an Air Traffic Controllers Licence - you don't have to be a NATS employee. Have you considered re-taking the exams sooner? Maybe rules have changed since I retired but one certainly did not have to wait for a year to pass to re-sit exams when I did mine.
How about this then..... you re-sit the exams and pass them. You can then seek employment outside NATS. Ever thought of going abroad?