If it helps the spirit Cpl, I did a degree in Aero-Eng, during which I got some UAS flying followed it up with a graduate trainee slot, and then did ETPS as a Flight Test Engineer. I now work mostly as an airworthiness engineer, but also fly about 80 hrs a year, much of which is test flying.
It's a hard line to get into, and nobody will pretend it's as glamorous as it looks from the outside, or as well paid as some other parts of aviation. It also takes YEARS more training and experience than pretty much anything else (about 8 years from leaving school minimum if you want to be an FTE, probably longer for a TP). Nonetheless, test flying is an exciting and fascinating area to work, and I have no hesitation in recommending it as an ambition.
If you want to find some more information, you could do worse than look at the SETP (Society of Experimental Test Pilots) or the SFTE (Society of Flight Test Engineers) websites.
If you'd care to admit whereabouts in the UK you are, I imagine someone here might be able to give you the right contacts.
G