In reply to Ed Navigante:
Always worth still trying DMM and WIld country, I'm sure they get inundated but maybe you have skills useful to them, ideas fresh eyes?
DMM advertised I think last year for a one year placement. WOuld be a great place to work. ALso consider Hope, make cycle components, high end CNC work, or perhaps a company CNCing components, to get an industrial experience with this would stand you in good sted even if its not an area like climbing that your interested in. These skills aren't as far as I know taught to a high level on uni courses, particuarly work holding fixture design and making etc
Good luck with it.