FJH, one possibility that I think I floated earlier and needs to be addressed by both recruiters and redundees is reapplication.
There would be nothing to stop Bloggs leaving by the front door and going to the AFCO and reapplying in due course. He/She would be a known quantity and might even be accepted back in to training as a re-entrant with a shortened IOT.
This enforced sabatical might even have the additional benefit of giving them more life skills, an enforced rest from the pressure cooker of flying training, and the potential to ease back in more easily than your newer applicant.
Many of course will fall out of time, these will be your graduate studes that did not enter training immediately after university and perhaps took as gap year as well. It will favour the 2-A-level applicant who will naturally be well within the age range.
How will they handle the inevitable re-application?