PetroCONNECT
PetroCONNECT specialises in offering a comprehensive range of professional services meticulously crafted to elevate the fuel retail industry. With a dedicated focus on service stations, we bring significant value through a suite of tailored solutions designed to enhance operations and personnel development. These services include facilitating the buying and selling of service stations with expert guidance, providing accredited training programmes to develop skills within businesses, and ensuring compliance with labour laws through comprehensive solutions.
PetroCONNECT Academy is a trusted accredited Skills Development and Training Provider offering a comprehensive range of training programmes for the retail sector. We take pride in our ability to deliver both accredited and non-accredited training to cater to all your specific requirements.
Flagship Programme: Fuel Retail 101: This course is designed to give prospective retailers or site managers a comprehensive understanding of the fuel retail industry. It covers the fundamental economics of running a successful service station and the key components of managing such a franchise.
Readiness Programme: Hybrid Training Model: Our Readiness Programme empowers candidates to enter the fuel retail industry or enhance their skills in their current roles. This two-week hybrid programme combines practical on-site and online-based training, focusing on the day-to-day operations of a service station.
Skills Developement Services: The PetroCONNECT Skills Development Programme empowers retailers to upskill their workforce through WRSETA-accredited short courses, development programmes, and learnerships. Businesses that appoint PetroCONNECT as their Skills Development Facilitator (SDF) can also benefit from tax rebate facilitation. As your SDF, PetroCONNECT will handle your Work Skills Plan (WSP) and Annual Training Report (ATR) submissions, unlocking mandatory grants worth 20% of your total SDL levies. We’ll also manage Discretionary Grant applications, covering training fees through WRSETA and providing opportunities for learnerships for unemployed youth in your community.
Our role is to act as an intermediary between the Retailer and the employees, helping to maintain positive relationships and resolve disputes. Our primary objective is to alleviate business owners from handling all issues related to the employer-employee relationship. As the fuel sector continues to evolve, our Labour Relations Advisors will ensure you stay updated on relevant laws and regulations.
Our services encompass various aspects from discipline management to retrenchments and restructuring and ensuring a fair and equitable business environment.
An industry marketplace for petrol stations for sale, representing both the buyer and seller. We have streamlined our services to provide buyers and sellers with flexible options tailored to their needs. Choose between an exclusive mandate or select individual services to complement your independent efforts. Our offerings include site valuations and vetting, legal services, finance applications, retail license applications, or a combination of finance and retail applications. PetroCONNECT guides prospective buyers into the fuel retail industry with services such as vetting valuations, sale of business agreements, and handling finance and retail license applications.
At PetroCONNECT, we are fuelling success in the retail industry. We specialise in offering a comprehensive range of
professional services that bring significant value to the fuel retail industry. Our suite of services are designed to
enhance and drive growth within service stations. Through tailored solutions, we empower retailers to enhance their operations, ensuring sustained success and development for our clients. We aim to empower businesses in the fuel retail industry and contribute to their long-term success.
Sbonelo Mbatha
Director and co-founder at PetroCONNECT, a business consultancy firm providing transformation solutions for the Energy Sector, bespoke technological solutions and training in the fuel retail industry. He is also a Founder and Director at Divine Inspiration Group, a holdings company that owns a number of service stations across the country. Sbonelo sits on the Economics Advisory Board for the Durban University of Technology. He also serves on the Wholesale and Retail SETA International Leadership Development Programme (ILDP) Steering Committee. Sbonelo is a Former National Chairperson for Bp Dealer Council and served at Fuel Retailers Association Board.
Sbonelo is now a published author with his inspiring book, ‘The Petrol Attendant‘. In it, Sbonelo shares his transformative journey, detailing the steps to buying or building a successful service station. This compelling narrative offers profound insights into the future landscape of petrol stations in South Africa, making it an essential read for aspiring entrepreneurs. https://www.takealot.com/the-petrol-attendant/PLID95533980
Mark Harper
Director and co-founder of Calhoun Holdings with PetroCONNECT being a subsidiary of the group, a B2B company developed with the purpose of playing a pro-active role in helping all players in the energy industry join forces to become part of the industry-wide solutions that are required of us all at this time. As part of Calhoun Holdings, he leads a number of service stations in South Africa. Mark has a Bachelor of Accounting degree from Stellenbosch University and a Postgraduate in Management in Marketing through the University of Cape Town. He enjoys developing innovative and creative solutions to business problems. He has a passion for entrepreneurship and enjoys working with people, and best believe it is evident in his ability to lead a successful and productive team.