As I understand it, BA have about 3 years after the end of your training to offer you a job. The market for pilots will recover and BA are losing people at a rate of knots thru retirement. Remember BA have spent a lot of money training you up. You "owe" them £15000 and, when you do start work, you will be dirt cheap. You are the first place that they will look when they need new pilots.
Therefore you are likely to get a job offer within your 3 years and BA should take account of your lack of experience in your subsequent conversion course. I would take the year(s) break as an opportunity that you are unlikely to get again. Do some work, save some cash and then go travelling.
If you really are desperate to keep flying, I know a mate of mine worked for a while as a pilots assistant in some charter outfit in Belize.
It goes without saying that you should ignore Vref's rantings, but as a professional pilot I'm sure you already knew that.