Again, cheers for all your replies guys.
Clarifying the degree aspect, the Part 66/Bsc is being offered through the ICAT at Barry College. It's only my personal take on things but I think doing some extra work on top of the Part 66 and gaining a Bsc in Aircraft Maintenance should open a few extra doors in the future.
The C license is also another thing to consider and having a first degree (as has already been mentioned) helps towards this, a degree fullfills the academic requirement although experience as a B1/B2 LAE is also obviously required.
From the information that has been kindly posted here, I am thinking that LAE really is the way forward for my circumstances but you know how it is, one or two articles which are negative towards the future of the LAE, start that nasty seed in the brain. So the degree might just be safety net I suppose!
Thanks again fellas
Chad