What was your route?
Air cadet flying
Gliding - Bronze C
RAF Flying Scholarship
PPL
Glider towing (hr building)
CPL/IR/MCC
Para Dropping
Regional TP FO
Jet FO
Time from CPL issue to Jet job - 6 years. The UK route is not defunct just very much in small numbers but still possible. Get involved with gliding and skydiving early on to make contacts.