CEO interview


manage their health. Think of it as a pseudo gym – a gym with appropriate equipment for older people who want to maintain a healthy lifestyle. “That’s one of the purposes that the


wellness studios fulfil. The second purpose is about people who require rehabilitation, such as physiotherapy following an injury or surgery. What we’re able to provide is a space that will aid rehab and recovery with a trained physiotherapist on site. This means that [residents] don’t have to go to the local hospital to receive those treatments. “This is about a determination by


[Signature’s] owners that there’s a long- term future for these care homes and for Signature – a very deliberate investment to future-proof some of the more mature sites, but also an intention in terms of modelling for new developments going forward. So, the investment is absolutely about wellness studios, but also about creating spaces that are inviting, that feel appealing, that feel desirable, that people can come and enjoy with their families for many years to come.”


An exciting, creative space TCHE: Has there been any opportunity to look at these older homes through the lens of sustainability and ESG? RM:“There have been a series of investments around sustainable products such as solar panelling, and of course some of the investments we’ve made will help in the reduction of our carbon footprint. “From a governance point of view, we’re


working really hard to embed good, clear governance measures that ensure that we do things in the right way, in a very responsible way ... There’s a lot of great work that we’re already doing that we don’t shout about enough – how well we pay our care staff, our social responsibility and what we do for communities, and the fundraising activities that we do for charitable causes each year. “So it’s an exciting time from an ESG perspective as well.”


TCHE: How does community engagement inform the development and design of the built environment for Signature, both indoors and outside? RM: “Thinking about the three homes that we’re opening, the garden spaces are the most exciting garden spaces we’ve created yet, and the reason is because it invites community. There’s the sustainability point – which is creating natural spaces that encourage wildlife, and that will give us great links to the likes of RSPB, where we’ll work with them to


install the right types of bird boxes and things like that – but we’ve also put in ‘play park’ spaces that children can play in. And I think that’s come as a surprise to some people, but actually it’s really important that when your grandchildren come to visit, they’re able to play. “We’ve also introduced safe outside


exercise equipment to help strengthen muscles in ways other than walking. So, during the warmer months, residents are able to get outside and use the equipment, which then means they’re less reliant on the wellness studio inside, and they’re able to get the benefit of fresh air as well. So we’re really excited about how that outside space is evolving, and how it links so well with the community. “I’m having some really exciting


conversations with our development team at the moment about how we can create much more natural pathways from the inside to the outside, wherever you are in the home. So you have covered outside spaces that invite you to dine al fresco during the better months, but also still get fresh air when the inclement weather is here. “We are in a really exciting, creative


space at the moment – with new land opportunities, new home openings, and a leadership team that has a real will to keep evolving, to keep coming up with new ways of doing things and new ideas.”


Today and tomorrow Following our chat, Rob and members of his team – including director of operations Chloe Cristinziano – gave me a tour of the home. While, inevitably, the refurbished Signature at Banstead does not quite match the opulent Signature at Highgate in terms of grandeur and flamboyance, it nonetheless looks and feels like a brand new, high-spec


24 www.thecarehomeenvironment.com April 2026


care home, both inside and out. While there are a couple of elements still left to finish (Signature has prioritised the areas of the home that most needed updating) the décor is bright and contemporary, with wide, airy corridors, attractive (and bustling) communal areas, and spacious bedrooms and suites of varying size and configuration to cater for the ever-changing needs of residents. As Rob points out during our tour, brighter spaces not only feel larger – they are safer, too. While Signature will continue to make


its name with high-profile (and expensive) luxury homes, it is very clear that Rob relishes the challenge of ensuring that the provider’s older properties not only do not get left behind, but also benefit from the cutting-edge design innovations that will underpin tomorrow’s homes. Rob Martin: “A challenge is an opportunity,


and the challenge for Signature – where you have mature buildings that were designed in a different time – is how you can modernise, upgrade, and change the use of spaces to create something that’s future-proof for the consumer – today and tomorrow. “We are absolutely responding to what we


know people want, what they require, what they expect, because a lot of people now coming into a care environment want more than just a single bedroom space that fits no more than a bed and a chair. They want to have privacy, but they also want to be able to have family in. They want to be part of a community. They want choice. “So, we’re responding to that, but having


to really challenge ourselves on how we retrofit. These are good, spacious, quality builds anyway, so it is easier to achieve that, but it’s still a challenge in some respects.” Clearly it is a challenge that Rob Martin and Signature are meeting head-on. n


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