The same unpaid leave was offered last year too, make of that what you will.
This year is different: weak UK economy (40% of ryr traffic), ryr actively seeking to reduce deliveries and fleet size, oil price murdering fr (it was hedged last year).
There won't be jobs there come the winter.
So, you ask, why recruitment still? Because it's a profit centre. Charge a premium for the TR, pay em $hit on contract, then can terminate the contract at any time. Which will happen in the winter.
Unfortunately by that stage your problems will be twofold: a) not enough hours to go elsewhere and b) nowhere to go as plenty of others will go bust next winter, leading to less jobs and more experienced pilots on the market bringing us back to problem (a).
Proceed at your own risk, cos the risk sure ain't ryanairs.