I wouldn't know a leading question if it hit me in the face
I freelanced for about 10 years before I left and it eventually stood me in very good stead. I got hold of a current copy of the BHAB handbook and sent a CV with covering letter to just about everyone in it. I waited until the Regt naffed off to the US on exercise for a month and used the spare gazelle to get some 'face' time with all the operators in the local area (plus 30hrs in my logbook). I paid for a TR on the 206 at a very competitive rate with Cabair at Elstree and gave them a few weekends work to pay off the rest. After a somewhat relaxed month with the Regt away I got a nice call from Aeromega asking if I would mind flying one of their jetboxes at Silverstone for the GP that weekend - err let me think about that... That led, over the next ten years, to some of the most enjoyable flying I have ever done. Once you get going you can trade time worked in exchange for ratings (very tax efficient). Keep your daily rate down to start with while you build up the time, I started at around £180 and finished up with £250+expenses. Forget about paying for an IR, you don't need it for what you want to do and when you do need it - someone else will pay. Stick to the charter market and have fun – Best of luck.