This is just my 2 pence worth and please take it as that, i don't work for an airline and i cant even legally fly. But i do work with the RAF and have done for the past few years (on secondment from the Army), and i've had the opportunity to fly in the back of the hawk a/c on many occasions and have had many an impromptu lessons by some excellent pilots
and by god do i wish id done things differently!
So what would i have done differently-
1- Joined the Air Cadets and not the Army cadets (free/discounted glider pilot licence)
2- Stayed in further education and gone to university and joined the UOTC (Uni Officer Training Corps) where you can do your PPL through the military at various RAF bases and also qualify for a £2000 a year bursary grant towards your study.
But what if he doesn't want to join the military? Don't take the bursary grant. But what he will have will be an excellent spring board for his flying carrier.
Again just my 2 pence worth, good look for the future!!