I could probably spare a few hours to go through it if you need some pointers - it's a big complex business that doesn't lend itself to easy discussion on a bulletin board. Where are you?
FE is useful as a design tool, but I doubt very much that you'll get away with a new wooden airframe without a significant amount of structural testing. The variability in wooden construction, wood properties, etc. make physical testing essential. A full sacrificial airframe can potentially be avoided, by testing sub-assemblies and coupons then putting it all together mathematically.
By and large it's going to require a mixture of testing and hand calcs, FE won't be your best friend here once you're past the design stage - it's a design, not a certification tool.
The other obvious question - do you have an engineering degree, or something equivalent? Not essential, but the associated skillset will help a lot.
With regard to the new CAA E-conditions, it's obviously completely untested as yet, but I'd love to help make an E-conditions programme work, and would certainly meet CAA's definition of a "Competent Person" in that regard. LAA in general however, don't get hung up about specific qualifications however, they just want competence.
G