Hi there Foo,
I was in your position a while back so hopefully can offer a bit of advice -
The one thing that I must emphasise is please don't go and sign up for an integrated training course until you have done some more flying!
You need to be REALLY sure that an aviation career is right for you and the best way to start is a PPL. Not only do you learn a lot about flying you will also make a load of new friends and contacts that will start you on your way if you decide it is still a career you want to pursue. There is a lot of networking involved in getting a job as a professional pilot, 'Fancy Navigator' is entirely wrong in his assessment though, it is not simply who you know although networking can play an important part. Anyway everyone knows this in the industry and you find people help each other out a lot when it comes to looking for work!
So in answer to you main point I would say definitely do a PPL first, then you can be sure before you splash the cash! It used to be the case (and I would hope still is) that schools will reduce the cost of an integrated course appropriately if you already have a PPL so you should not have to rule this path out.
I hope this help and best of luck!