Refactor the utilities file into utilities folder

[starship006]

Description

Addresses #612

As of this comment being written, this only currently just refactors utils - no extra testing has been added.

Type of change

Please delete options that are not relevant.

• [ ] Bug fix (non-breaking change which fixes an issue)
• [ ] New feature (non-breaking change which adds functionality)
• [x] Breaking change (fix or feature that would cause existing functionality to not work as expected)
• [x] This change requires a documentation update

Checklist:

• [x] I have commented my code, particularly in hard-to-understand areas
• [ ] I have made corresponding changes to the documentation
• [ ] My changes generate no new warnings
• [ ] I have added tests that prove my fix is effective or that my feature works
• [ ] New and existing unit tests pass locally with my changes
• [ ] I have not rewritten tests relating to key interfaces which would affect backward compatibility