For those who are not AOPA UK members and therefore do not see the magazine here are a couple of links to pdf 's of articles in the current issue. These are provided with the consent of the publisher.
The files are quite big (300 and 700k) so don't try this on a mobile device!
http://www.joinaopa.com/Documents/AWFU1.pdf
http://www.joinaopa.com/Documents/IMCletters.pdf
For anyone not from the UK, the UK IMC rating involves less training than an ICAO IR and allows flight in UK airspace classes D and below in circumstances when compliance with IFR is required. As a national rating it is threatened by EASA's proposals for FCL changes.