Latest news with #PeterMitchell
Rhyl Journal
24-07-2025
- Business
- Rhyl Journal
Rhyl property used as homeless accommodation sold at auction
48 River Street (The Cove Guest House) was auctioned 'on behalf of the administrators' by Liverpool-based estate agents Sutton Kersh this afternoon (July 24). It sold for £176,000, after a guide price of £150,000 had been set – the identity of the buyer was not disclosed. A total of 17 bids were made for the property at today's auction until it was sold. Sutton Kersh described 48 River Street as a 'vacant three-storey detached property which has previously been used as a 13-bedroomed guesthouse'. It added: 'Following refurbishment and modernisation, the property would be suitable for investment purposes or potential flat conversation, subject to gaining any necessary consents.' The property was previously owned by Big Help Homes CIC, who bought it in February 2021 for £245,000. Big Help Homes CIC went into administration in March – its latest accounts show that, as of January 30, 2024, its liabilities exceeded its assets by £504,291. Last October, Big Help Homes CIC was the subject of a winding-up petition sent to the High Court. Its administrators, Grant Thornton, said in an administrator's proposal that Big Help Homes CIC was leased 18 properties by another company, Home Long Income Fund (HLIF), but had 'not paid rent to HLIF for some time'. It also claimed in this proposal that Big Help Homes CIC owes a total of £8.8million to its creditors. Two of its former directors, Peter Mitchell and his partner Colette Goulding, were declared bankrupt in May. Another 'Big Help' company, Big Help Project, is currently subject to a Charity Commission inquiry after a significant increase in its reported income was identified. Last July, 48 River Street was one of seven Rhyl properties listed for online auction with estate agents Allsop 'by order of a charity', but none of the relevant legal documents were attached to their auction pages. When contacted, Allsop could not disclose why they were subsequently withdrawn from auction. Then, in August, three of these properties – including 48 River Street – were put back up for auction via Sutton Kersh. No legal documents were attached to these properties' auction pages on this occasion, either. On August 29, all three properties' auctions, scheduled for September 10, were postponed. On September 2, a Sutton Kersh representative said they were pulled from auction because it didn't have 'formal instruction' for them. 48 River Street was also the registered address of another "Big Help" company, Big Help Holiday Homes Ltd, prior to this company being dissolved last year.
Business Journals
07-07-2025
- Automotive
- Business Journals
The future of fleet management: Inside Verizon Connect's safety transformation
Peter Mitchell, general manager of Verizon Connect, still remembers one of the company's first customers: a small business run by a husband-and-wife team, with a fleet of just 10 vehicles. The business had signed up for Verizon Connect's fleet management system, a brand new offering at the time. Within days, the business saw a 10% improvement in efficiency — the equivalent, the owners said, of getting a new truck and driver for free. And that was just the beginning: Over time, the company went on to improve its efficiency by 45%. For Mitchell, that early customer experience speaks to the impact Verizon Connect has in helping businesses implement and streamline their fleet operations to boost efficiency and deliver measurable results. 'Small and medium-sized businesses, like that first customer, are creating jobs and serving their communities, and we help them be even better,' Mitchell said. Technologies that meet a 'defined need' The use of fleet management technology has increased exponentially since then. According to the 2025 Verizon Connect Fleet Trends Report, more than 80% of fleet professionals now use at least one form of fleet tech. With rising operational costs remaining a top concern (cited by 77% of respondents for the fifth year in a row), technology is proving to be a viable solution. Among the available technologies, GPS tracking is the most widely used, with 69% of fleets across industries having implemented it into their daily operations. Of those, nearly half have achieved a positive ROI in less than a year, and 57% cited improved driver safety as a key benefit. In addition, over a quarter reported that GPS fleet tracking helps identify opportunities for electric vehicle (EV) integration. St. Johns County Public Works in northeast Florida is one example of the power of GPS tracking in action. The department manages a fleet of over 1,000 vehicles and was using a tedious, manual process to track them — an approach that wasted resources and prevented timely response. Recognizing these limitations, the department went in search of an innovative solution and opted to implement GPS fleet tracking software through Verizon Connect. The results of this upgrade include improved resource allocation, accountability and transparency, as well as strengthened relationships between departments, said Rocky Agbunag, information systems officer for St. Johns County Public Works. 'Resource allocation is a huge advantage of using this system. The fleet maintenance team is providing information about the various departments' vehicles and their operation of their fleet," Agbunag said. The technology has also proven valuable in communicating with communities during severe weather events. "We're able to say, 'Hey, this crew is moving along your neighborhood,' or 'This crew is going to be in your subdivision next,'" Agbundag said. Leading through continuous innovation Verizon Connect has introduced new tools aimed at improving fleet safety and compliance, including Extended View Cameras to enhance driver visibility and performance, and Driver Vehicle Inspection Report (DVIR) to streamline compliance and maintenance needs. Extended View Cameras provide near-360-degree visibility through four additional cameras and an in-cab monitor, giving fleet managers and drivers a clearer view of their surroundings. This enhanced visibility not only improves situational awareness but also encourages safer driving behaviors. In fact, vehicles using Extended View Cameras with artificial intelligence and in-cab alerts experienced significant improvements compared to vehicles with AI cameras but no alerts, including reductions in tailgating, calling while driving, distraction and fatigue. The DVIR tool consolidates inspection and compliance tracking into a single platform. Drivers can upload photos to document vehicle issues, while fleet managers receive real-time alerts for incomplete inspections or reported defects, helping prevent costly repairs or compliance penalties. Improving safety and insights through artificial intelligence Unsurprisingly, AI is one of the latest technologies driving advancements in fleet safety, with AI-powered dashcams to detect distracted driving patterns and road hazards in real time. By combining high-quality, AI-powered visual data, like lane changes or red-light violations, with performance indicators like hard braking or sudden acceleration, operators gain a more complete understanding of driver behavior and vehicle dynamics within minutes of an incident occurring. 'You get a rich data source when you put those two data sets together and add the location and related details like the speed limit or proximity to a school,' Mitchell said. 'Most important is distilling that down to what you should care about if you're an owner.' Similar technology is being applied beyond vehicles. Equipment Asset Trackers (EAT) allow customers to monitor and manage equipment in the field. With remote access to vital equipment data such as status, location, productivity and health, businesses gain efficiencies while reducing theft and downtime for high-value or critical machinery. 'Businesses operating fleets have financial pressures, and they are aware of the benefits that these systems can bring,' Mitchell said. 'Fleet management technology boosts performance, reduces costs, improves safety and supports sustainability. The results are being clearly demonstrated." Learn more about how fleet management technology continues to empower fleets across small, medium and enterprise companies to enhance efficiency, improve safety and navigate sustainability challenges in the 2025 Verizon Connect Fleet Trends Report. Verizon Connect is a leading provider of fleet management and mobile workforce solutions, helping businesses improve safety, efficiency and productivity. With advanced GPS tracking, integrated video solutions, AI-powered insights and compliance tools, Verizon Connect empowers companies to optimize operations and reduce costs. Learn more at
Rhyl Journal
06-07-2025
- Business
- Rhyl Journal
Rhyl property used as homeless accommodation set for auction
48 River Street (The Cove Guest House) is to be auctioned 'on behalf of the administrators' by Liverpool-based estate agents Sutton Kersh on Thursday, July 24. It is owned by Big Help Homes CIC, who bought the property in February 2021 for £245,000 – for the July 24 auction, a guide price of £150,000 has been set. Big Help Homes CIC went into administration in March – its latest accounts show that, as of January 30, 2024, its liabilities exceeded its assets by £504,291. Last October, Big Help Homes CIC was the subject of a winding-up petition sent to the High Court. Its administrators, Grant Thornton, said in an administrator's proposal that Big Help Homes CIC was leased 18 properties by another company, Home Long Income Fund (HLIF), but had 'not paid rent to HLIF for some time'. It also claimed in this proposal that Big Help Homes CIC owes a total of £8.8million to its creditors. Two of its former directors, Peter Mitchell and his partner Colette Goulding, were declared bankrupt in May. Another 'Big Help' company, Big Help Project, is currently subject to a Charity Commission inquiry after a significant increase in its reported income was identified. Last July, 48 River Street was one of seven Rhyl properties listed for online auction with estate agents Allsop 'by order of a charity', but none of the relevant legal documents were attached to their auction pages. When contacted, Allsop could not disclose why they were subsequently withdrawn from auction. Then, in August, three of these properties – including 48 River Street – were put back up for auction via Sutton Kersh. No legal documents were attached to these properties' auction pages on this occasion, either. On August 29, all three properties' auctions, scheduled for September 10, were postponed. On September 2, a Sutton Kersh representative said they were pulled from auction because it didn't have 'formal instruction' for them. 48 River Street was also the registered address of another "Big Help" company, Big Help Holiday Homes Ltd, prior to this company being dissolved last year. Sutton Kersh describes 48 River Street as a 'vacant three-storey detached property which has previously been used as a 13-bedroomed guesthouse'. It added: 'Following refurbishment and modernisation, the property would be suitable for investment purposes or potential flat conversation, subject to gaining any necessary consents.'
Rhyl Journal
19-06-2025
- Business
- Rhyl Journal
Company which owns Rhyl homeless property faces strike-off
Social Value Housing, a Liverpool-based housing association, has been made subject to an active proposal to strike the company off the register. It owns 35 River Street, also known as Berwyn Guest House, which it leased to Rochdale-based Sanctuary Trust Ltd last July. Sanctuary Trust has been contacted for further comment on what Social Value Housing's strike-off could mean for its lease agreement. The company agreed to pay rent at the property at a rate of £25,480 per annum for seven years, with a break date set of July 1, 2028. Social Value Housing also owned 44 River Street (Riverside Guest House), having bought it for £295,000 in May 2023, but this was sold for £150,000 to BT Asset Holdings Ltd in April. 44 River Street, Rhyl (Image: Newsquest) Social Value Housing's accounts are also overdue, having not filed its 2023-24 financial year statement by the deadline of April 29. Peter Mitchell, who was a director of Social Value Housing before resigning on May 1, was declared bankrupt at Liverpool County Court on May 13. Mr Mitchell and his partner, Colette Goulding, who was also declared bankrupt that day, have also quit numerous companies under the 'Big Help' umbrella, which previously provided homeless accommodation in Rhyl. One of those, Big Help Project, is currently subject to a Charity Commission inquiry after a significant increase in its reported income was identified. Last July, seven Rhyl properties including 35 River Street were listed for auction with estate agents Allsop 'by order of a charity'. But none of the relevant legal documents were attached to their auction pages, and they were subsequently withdrawn from auction. Contrary to Land Registry documents, Mr Mitchell told the Journal last July that Social Value Housing owned all seven of these Rhyl properties – which are based on River Street, Vale Road and East Parade. In August, three of these properties were put back up for auction via estate agents Sutton Kersh. But no legal documents were attached to these properties' auction pages on this occasion, either, so all three properties' auctions were postponed. A Sutton Kersh representative said they were pulled from auction because it didn't have 'formal instruction' for them.
The Courier
07-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Courier
All you need to know about Alyth and District Agricultural Show
The summer agricultural event season is in full swing and thousands of people are expected to descend on a field in Perthshire for one of the next bumper instalments. Alyth and District Agricultural Show is on at Bogles Field, Essendy Road, Blairgowrie, next Saturday (June 14) from 8.30am-6.30pm. Visitors will find cattle, sheep, horses, donkeys, vintage tractors, trade and food/drink stands, children's activities, Highland dancing, a dog show and a pipe band in full flow. Alyth Show started in the 1940s, later becoming Alyth and District Agricultural Show. It grew steadily over the years and in the late 80s was deemed to be too large for its site at Diamond Jubilee Park, Alyth . So, it moved to a local field in 1990 and was then rotated between different farms. The annual event has been held at Bogles Field, Blairgowire, most years since 2013. This year's show president, Peter Mitchell, told us about a new addition to the roster. He said: 'We are delighted to be hosting a display of around 15 Caterpillars (agricultural machinery) at this year's show to celebrate 100 years of Caterpillar. 'Some of the models will be competing in our vintage section and parade. 'But many will be on display to provide an amazing showcase of these magnificent machines in their centenary year.' Pooches can be entered into the 2pm 'companion' dog show, including pedigree and novelty classes, any time up until 1pm. Peter added: 'We also take on-the-day entries for our horse sections. 'And in our unaffiliated show jumping classes, we have five classes catering for all ages and abilities, with entries taken on the day also.' Show secretary Gail Robertson said there were already 45 entries in the cattle classes, 160 for sheep categories, 80 in the horse, pony and donkey sections and 55 for vintage tractors, implements and engines. Schedules and entry forms can be found online at Bogles Field, Essendy Road, Blairgowrie. Adults £10, OAP & over 12s £5, Under 12s get in free. Tickets can be bought at the gate. Yes and it's free
