David Tyson Memorial Fund
About the Fund
The David Tyson Memorial Fund was established in 2017 to support young people pursuing careers in rail engineering and related engineering disciplines. 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.
A Legacy of Excellence in Rail 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. Known for his remarkable ability to design seamless track alignments, David was a Fellow of the Permanent Way Institution and a valued mentor who inspired many young engineers. His contributions to track engineering software development remain widely used in the industry today.
Supporting Young Engineers
The David Tyson Memorial Fund provides grants between £100 – £500 to encourage and support young people aged 14-25 from Surrey and surrounding countries to pursue careers in railway systems engineering, which may include computer design systems, civil engineering and rolling stock engineering.
Funding is focused on supporting young people who are experiencing financial disadvantage, who may not otherwise have the opportunity to explore a career in engineering, to:
Explore their options for further study or careers in railway, civil or mechanical engineering
Undertake relevant vocational training, apprenticeships, work experience placements, and/or undergraduate degrees
Attend events designed to increase the ‘pipeline’ of young people considering railway engineering.
In exceptional cases, awards of up to £1,000 may be considered.
The funding can be used for:
✔ Course fees and accreditation
✔ Essential study resources (books, software)
✔ Travel to courses and training sites
✔ Specialist equipment, tools, or materials
✔ Work-based training costs
Grant awards can be made payable to the trainer / provider of your course or activity.
Funding is not normally available for anything that has already been paid for or taken place. Please make sure you wait for the outcome of your application before you start an activity or book a course that incurs costs.
Please also note that we cannot necessarily support all applications fully. We therefore recommend that you also look into other funding avenues and tell us about your other fundraising.
If you are a young person looking for support to move towards an identified goal in education, training, apprenticeship, or employment, in a discipline other than engineering, the Surrey Young People’s Fund may be able to help.
Making an impact
The fund has already helped many aspiring engineers achieve their goals. By removing financial barriers, the fund enables young people to develop the skills, confidence, and qualifications needed for a successful career in engineering.
Grant Recipient
“The David Tyson Memorial Fund provided me with invaluable financial support throughout my university journey, alleviating the burden of educational expenses. Thanks to their generosity, I could focus on my studies without constant financial worries, paving the way for a successful academic experience.”
How to apply
Applications are open year-round, and there is no closing date.
Applications are reviewed by a dedicated Fund Panel. Where appropriate, we will contact you to obtain any further information. Outcomes are typically provided within six weeks.
Eligible applicants must be:
✔ Aged 16–25 and motivated to pursue a career in engineering
✔ Resident in Surrey or within 25 miles of the county (for general engineering applications)
✔ Resident in England and studying rail engineering (for rail-specific applications)
Send completed application forms to grants@cfsurrey.org.uk
Continuing David Tyson’s legacy
Through this fund, David’s passion for rail engineering continues to inspire and support future generations. His dedication to innovation, mentoring, and skill development lives on, ensuring that young engineers have the resources and opportunities to succeed.