Nags teeth, I don't know about licensing in the UK but here in Canada you can walk in off the street, pay $30,000 - $40,000, fly for 100 hours on R22 and B206 and start work as a commercial helicopter pilot with a CPL(H). The alternate is to attend one of the community colleges and do their 2 or 3 year aviation course. It would probably cost the same or more.