Introducing the Hearts & Minds Foundation, a registered charity founded in January 2024. Created by entrepreneur, Tajinder Banwait MBE, in memory of her late brother, who died of congenital heart disease at the age of 18.

A successful beauty entrepreneur and business leader, Tajinder Banwait MBE, is best known for her fragrance lifestyle brand, Urban Apothecary. She created this multi-million-pound, award-winning company from scratch at her kitchen table in Leicester; the modern apothecary collection, including her renowned hand-poured candles, can be found in 34 countries worldwide. In February 2023, Tajinder launched the eco-beauty brand Palette London, her second business to be built from the bottom up. 

In recognition of the positive impact of her work – as a Department for Business and Trade Midlands Export Champion, supporting British manufacturing, promoting female entrepreneurs and leading the way for South Asian businesses to thrive – Tajinder was awarded an MBE for services to Business and the Beauty Industry in the 2024 New Year Honours List.An enthusiastic mentor, Tajinder freely gives her time to organisations such as the Prince’s Trust and the Santander Breakthrough Women Business Leaders’ Mentoring Programme, amongst others. She is an inspiring role model committed to breaking down barriers for women seeking to enter the beauty industry and manufacturing. 

The Hearts & Minds Foundation (H&MF) is Tajinder’s third enterprise, the idea for which grew over the decades following losing her brother to congenital heart disease. Following two years of planning, including officially registering, spending time with heart charities to find out what they need most and creating products to generate funds, the foundation began to take shape. In January 2024, the foundation was officially registered with a mission to relieve sickness and advance the health and well-being of children and young adults in the UK with Congenital and other heart conditions.