You'd struggle to find an ATCO3 at a band 2 unit pulling in over £4K/month take home. And that includes OJTI and LCE.
Training was always done at the speed of light and the possibility of being chopped was always very real (the company and I had a parting of the ways some years ago and I am an example of that, as were several of my friends).
I've been in the game 17 years this week and I earn as much as someone with 35 years experience. I don't see them complaining.
Look at it this way BigDaddy, if you're valid now, you're pretty much on a winner. If you're not, then I hope you don't find yourself in the position I did, because £0/month is a lot worse than £1250/month, believe me.
Bonding? Pah, too good fer 'em, birch 'em instead!