PugWash, heres a thought/s. Apply to NATS like most future ATCO's (cos they pay for your training!!) and you never know you might even pass. If you do and you like it - bonus. If you dont like it, keep your JCB and pay for yourself to get whatever licence/course you need to dig holes??!! You never know you might like that instead??
Or educate yourself at the other ATC training establishments outside NATS, fund it yourself (rather expensive though - doh) and hopefully you will still get a licence at the end. At this point you still dont have a job unless you have struck a deal with a non NATS unit before hand. When/If you get a job I hope the job is for you because at this point the large wedge of cash you've just blown could have been used for your JCB thingy-mi-bobby to dig holes!!
P.S Good luck
