Thanks all for the replies, particularly
WWW.
"There are a lot out there who have the exams and some ratings but who have effectively given up. " ........ how sad ! I hope I don't end up eventually in this category, or god forbid the, "significant number of no-hopers who have ticked all the boxes but won't get a job unless the market returns to the heydays of pilot shortage "

.........but hey, that's life !!
Cheers,
C.G.