Thanks for all your replies.
Just to be clear when I said stumping up the cash in advanced! I should have worded that better. I meant using my own resources and not taking a loan out, and paying as I go.
I do have one advantage (disadvantage while training). I Live in the Channel Islands and have a full, unrestricted right to work across The Channel Islands. Due to my family roots I also have full rights to work in the UK & EU.
This should help me either get a locally based job with a regional or local airline. There are also a number of companies who have locally based aircraft to move freight / staff.
I'm hoping that will help me step on to the ladder.
Although it's appears to have died down at the moment, there was a small period of jobs going in the local paper for pilots with a local licence.