From memory (and it was quite a while ago) in the UK private flying did not count if the aircraft was below a certain weight. The weight you will have to check but I recall either 1260Kg or 2700ishKg - as I said it's a while ago and this is from memory.
So I used to do prvate light aircraft recreational flying no problems at all in the UK (chipmunk, aeoronca champ). In a previous life I used to fly citations and every now and then I used to do an unpaid flight (usually deliver to maintenance) and I used to advice my chief pilot and he was ok with that. My duty hours never came near any legal maximums and so long as that was the case - that's all he was concerned with.
Sadly lost touch with both now and just fly the jet at work.
Hope this helps and please bear in mind this is all from memory and may well be rubbish under todays rules.
HP