Notting Hill director Roger Michell is to mentor newcomer Shreepali Patel on the first production to go though training scheme Directing Change.

Patel, a Cardiff based director-producer with credits on documentaries such as Falkland Stories and Heavenly Bodies, will work alongside Michell on Pathe UK's upcoming production, Enduring Love.

The scheme, set up by UIP and industry body Women in Film and Television in May, gives women directors the opportunity to work alongside an experienced filmmaker on a major production. The aim of the initiative, which has support from Gurinder Chadha and Jane Campion, is to address the under-representation of women directors, dubbed the celluloid ceiling.

"I have a huge smile on my face knowing that I will be working with Roger Michell and his team," Patel said. "Roger's understanding and portrayal of human emotion manifests itself in strong story telling and that really appeals to me."

Enduring Love, which stars Daniel Craig, Rhys Ifans and Samantha Morton, is adapted by Joe Penhall from Ian McEwan's best-selling novel. Kevin Loader and Michell's Free Range Films are producing, with shooting starting in September in the Chilterns and London.