Many thanks for your replies & also apologies for not saying thank you earlier. They've all been passed on.
He actually had intended to apply for Pilot but was under the impression that hell would freeze before that opened. He therefore is applying for WSOp with the intention of getting a few more academic qualifications from within the RAF & some experience, with a view to applying for Pilot at a later date. He was also (mistakenly it seems) under the impression that recruitment would be opening within a few months.
His alternative to all of the above would be ATC.