pinteam, he's not. In the "UK based" world of thought, they set STD immediately once clearance to a FL is received. It is not without a merit.
Personally I had been originally trained the way you explain, and it feels more natural to me. But the habit seems to be the only difference. For the last 3 years using their method, I had not been stopped in climb yet. In the descent, requiring re-set of the datum? Twice or thrice for sure.
(Just do not ask the boss if he wants you to set STD on the ground, when initial clearance is straight up to a FL
)