Jacyn Heavens


Jacyn Heavens is the owner, founder and CEO of Epos Now, a global electronic point of sale company with offices in both the UK and the United States, and a media commentator for retail, hospitality and tech industry trends.

Early life and education

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.

Career

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. 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.
Heavens started Epos Now and was able to grow his business to a valuation of over $90 million in 2016. Epos Now has over 350 employees throughout the UK and the US, with over 30,000 businesses using the software.
Heavens is the founder and CEO of Sentinel Asset Finance, Sentinel Property Management and Blue House Investments.
Since November 2017 Heavens has been the University of East Anglia's first Entrepreneur in Residence.

Awards

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.
Heavens was announced as the Entrepreneur of the Year in the BOC Brilliance in Business Awards 2016.
In April 2017, Heavens was announced the East of England Institute of Directors, Director of the Year.
Heavens was named a regional finalist for London and the South region in the Ernst Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award 2017.
Heavens was named 'Cloud Entrepreneur of the Year' in Computing' 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.

Media

As a tech industry observer across trade publications and national media. He has also featured on television discussing the "importance of a positive corporate culture".
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, City AM, the Daily Star, and Big Hospitality.
Research conducted by Heavens has been reported on by BBC, and The Telegraph.
Heavens has provided commentary related to the UK EU Referendum Result in June 2016, including technology news website ZD Net and on news outlets CNBC and the BBC News.
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, and City AM.