Jacyn Heavens

Heavens was born to Karen and Barry Heavens in James Paget Hospital in Gorleston, Norfolk, England on 7 June 1983. He attended Thorpe St Andrew School, and he continued his studies at Cawston College in Cawston, Norfolk, England.[2]

Heavens worked in sales including insurance, advertising and technology. He later specialised in the telecommunications industry before moving into the hospitality industry to launch his own bar and restaurant.[3] Heavens searched for a POS system that would suit his business and identified a gap in the market and began to develop his own software.[4]

Heavens started Epos Now and was able to grow his business to a valuation of over $90 million in 2016.[5] Epos Now has over 350 employees throughout the UK and the US,[1] with over 30,000 businesses using the software.[6]

Heavens is the founder and CEO of Sentinel Asset Finance, Sentinel Property Management and Blue House Investments.[7]

Since November 2017 Heavens has been the University of East Anglia's first Entrepreneur in Residence.[8]

In November 2016, Heavens was named Great British Retail Entrepreneur of the Year, a title awarded to him by Natwest's Great British Entrepreneur Awards.[9]

Heavens was announced as the Entrepreneur of the Year in the BOC Brilliance in Business Awards 2016.[10]

In April 2017, Heavens was announced the East of England Institute of Directors, Director of the Year.[11]

Heavens was named a regional finalist for London and the South region in the Ernst Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award 2017.[12]

Heavens was named 'Cloud Entrepreneur of the Year'[13] in Computing' Cloud Excellence Awards 2017.

In May 2018 it was announced that the University of East Anglia were awarding Heavens an honorary doctorate of science in the July 2018 graduation ceremony.[14]

As a tech industry observer across trade publications and national media.[15][16] He has also featured on television discussing the "importance of a positive corporate culture".[17]

Coverage of sales spikes in the UK publican trade featured in the press during the Euro 2016 tournament. Heavens was invited to commentate in The Spectator,[18] City AM,[19] and Big Hospitality.[20]

Research conducted by Heavens has been reported on by BBC,[21] and The Telegraph.[22]

Heavens has provided commentary related to the UK EU Referendum Result in June 2016, including technology news website ZD Net[23] and on news outlets CNBC[24] and the BBC News.[25]

Heavens discussed the increases in revenue experienced by British retail and hospitality businesses during summer 2016, following the referendum. This "staycationing" trend was mentioned in The Times,[26] and City AM.[27]