Thanks for the advice. Ideally, I'd like to do the training full time. I got my fixed wing PPL in Florida post 9/11 in 2003. It took 3 and a 1/2 weeks including all the ground exams (I didn't have a full-time career back then and had a lot more freedom). Unfortunately I don't think I'll get the time off work to do the same for PPL(H) and CPL(H). I would be able to take the time to do a few weeks hour building in the States once I'd achieved the PPL(H).
I think, for the sake of security, it's going to have to be done part-time until I'm at an employable level. I'm not looking forward to the theory self study though!