Quite a few people round here have ferrets as a it's a farming community. They take them rabbiting for exercise. So if you know someone with a rabbit problem (eg a farmer) it would be good exercise and normal behaviours for a ferret. It seems to be a north of England hobby keeping a ferret and going ferreting
I think it might be a bit overwhelming having a ferret - just had a look at the Blue Cross page. I thought they lived in outdoor pens (maybe depending on climate), but apparently they can live indoors as well, but need a massive 10 foot (3 metre) cage apparently! Not trying to put you off but it sounds like it could be quite time-consuming having a ferret as well as other pets - unless you did it in stages. But if you just had a hamster and a ferret it might work if you could make a big enough cage. And ferrets are awake during the day. They do have a reputation for being bitey but you could tame it I think.
This is the Blue Cross info about them (sorry if you already know all this)
https://www.bluecross.org.uk/pet-adv...er-your-ferret