An apprenticeship is by far the best way to go if you want to work in civvie street.
You could join the RAF and get experience this way but from what I remember the CAA dont class this as great experience (Im not saying that working in the RAF is a bad form of training). If you look on airmech there is bound to be at least 1 question still running from a services guy looking at doing some work in civil to get his experince for his licences as the CAA are not recognising his time in the RAF.
Having said that, the RAF looks quite a nice option at the minute if you dont mind sand, as most airlines are trying to cut costs....
Then there is the final question
Planks or Whirly gigs