Didn't the NATS controllers lose the chance of sticking together when Area was split from Airports (was it around 2000?). I do remember voices back then saying that was the thin end of the wedge.It now seems the fatter end of the wedge is arriving.
As a current (non NATS) controller i'd be rather reluctant to fly out of Gatwick if i knew the ATCO's there were trained only on a sim and given green field status! However, as a non NATS controller i can also see the pressures to drive down costs from NATS levels. There will be sufficient new ATCO's willing to work for say 60% to 70% (debate?) of current NATS salaries who, presumably, can be properly trained in time.