When I was at school, and in my Air Training Corps days, the ATC Gliding Certificate fulfilled one section of D of E. Extrapolating from this, you could always start by getting yourself an Air/Ground Radio Operators certificate and 'claim' this towards your D of E.
Gaining this certificate would also indicate to you the 'work' involved in even this basic qualification, and I'm sure having one when you apply to NATS would help.
Ask your D of E tutor about it, they should be able to advise.