Finally, the email arrived today. It is as what we all expected. BA have filled the immediate recruitment void with BMI pilots, the medium term will be cadets, and DEP recruitment probably won't happen before most of the current applicants have long moved on.
The recruitment team must feel a bit like the Manager of a football team whose scouting team has spent months identifying talent and holding trial games only to have the Director of Football override them and make a few free signings from a relegated club!