if you complete a well conducted IMC course it will be a good foundation for the IR
Especially if you know who his instructor was going to be.
I wouldn't recommend anyone getting an IMC if they are going onto do an IR.
Especially the paying the CAA to get it issued.
I would recommend though having a pre IR exposure to instrument flying so you can hit the course running with your brain having some idea what a scan is and what the ruff procedures are.