The DfT permission is easy to get.
They say on their website they will issue it only to owners, part owners (max 4 owners), or where the aircraft is Ltd Co owned the co. must not have more than 4 Directors (IIRC).
Janeen Kochan also comes over every once in a while, and TAA should know because they used to arrange it.
Without dft permission you will have to position to france separately to the aircraft before training
Who told you that?