Why FSI Farnborough? They are very expensive for starters. Unless of course you had trouble booking them into the USA. Has the new company got access to limitless funds?
I would never have sent them to anywhere in Europe for training. FSI USA is where I would have sent them. The instructors are better and more experienced in the main, and they cut out a lot of BS, even the JAA approved schools. K.I.S.S (Keep it simple!!)
Yes, Captains criterion is different. What are you looking for in your F/O's "aces"? Or someone who can perform to a reasonable safe standard, do the job get the a/c down in one piece, should there be incapacitation in the LHS.
They cannot expect too much from a young 250hour pilot, just out of school.