Getting a PPL and sitting the ATPL written exams before doing a FI course and becoming an instructor for a few years..
The obvious flaw with that plan is that under the current proposals to allow PPL Instructors be paid for instructing, you must have amassed 200 hours before you can become an Instructor. Thus you will still have to hour build and once you have 200 hours you might just as well go for the CPL. So that's not really a viable option.
In any case while being an Instructor is a good way to earn hours and vital experience. (Experience is something many people overlook). But it's a lousy way of raising money.
Ab Initio courses = Intergrated course (which apparently airlines prefer?)
'That should be 'Ab Initio courses = Intergrated course (which apparently
some airlines prefer?)' You probably won't get into BA or Aer Lingus as a low time pilot. But most airlines don't care really. But you will probably have a better chance with many airlines if you have a more than 300 hours under your belt. Instructing can give you that along with vital experience.