David Tyson Memorial Fund

The David Tyson Memorial Fund was established in 2017 to support young people pursuing careers in rail engineering and related engineering disciplines. The fund provides grants between £100-£500 (up to £1,000 in exceptional cases) to encourage and support young people aged 14-25 from Surrey and surrounding counties to pursue careers in railway systems engineering, including computer design systems, civil engineering and rolling stock engineering. Funding is focused on supporting young people who are experiencing financial disadvantage and who may not otherwise have the opportunity to explore a career in engineering. The fund was created in memory of David Tyson (1948–2015), a highly respected permanent way engineer whose expertise shaped major railway projects in the UK and overseas. Grants can be used for course fees and accreditation, essential study resources, travel to courses and training sites, specialist equipment and tools, and work-based training costs. Applications are open year-round with no closing deadline, and outcomes are typically provided within six weeks.