and must have completed around 15 IMC's to date
Surely its rather an overkill to obtain an EASA IR, have 800 hours under IFR, complete an IRI Course and then train for an IMC rating which has a sell by date of April 2019 unless the CAA an convince EASA otherwise.
That sounds like one instructor who has found a niche outside the normal commercial environment. The average club CFI is not going to give all the IMC ratings, if there are any to an IRI when he has FIs to do the work.
A good working relationship with a local examiner is imperative.
Not for the IR where the NAA nominate the Examiner.